INTEGRATED MULTI ENVIRONMENT INTERACTIVE GAME

• US 20160144283A1
• Filed: 07/29/2015
• Published: 05/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hasbro Inc., Martin-Boivin Innovations Inc.
• Original Assignee: Martin-Boivin Innovations Inc.
• Inventors: Martin, Frederic, Boivin, Marie Hlne, Judkins, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 10,561,950 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/215 comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/216 using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/46 Computing the game score
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/67 adaptively or by learning from player actions, e.g. skill level adjustment or by storing successful combat sequences for re-use
• 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 13/73 Authorising game programs or game devices, e.g. checking authenticity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/825 Fostering virtual characters
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/85 Providing additional services to players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2435 using a video camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2447 Motion detector
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/16 Spinning-top games
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/24 Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for video games A63F13/00; computerized gaming systems G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 1/00 Tops diabolos or similar thrown and caught spinning tops or throwing and catching devices therefor A63B67/16; flying tops A63H27/12
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2200/00 Computerized interactive toys, e.g. dolls
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3206 Player sensing means, e.g. presence detection, biometrics
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3209 Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3216 Construction aspects of a gaming system, e.g. housing, seats, ergonomic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions

Abstract

Gaming systems and methods for integrated computer-related and physical game play interactions between a game player, a physical game piece character and an electronic device are defined. The physical game piece character may be a combination of smaller parts where each combination transmits a unique alphanumeric identifier and control signals to an electronic device game application, where the game application features the physical game piece character and is responsive to the signals from the physical game piece character and transmits control signals to the physical game piece, which responds with sensory signals.

Claims

1. A gaming system for integrated computer-related and physical game play interactions comprising:

a physical game piece comprising;

a unique alphanumeric identifier;

a first signal transmitter configured to transmit the unique alphanumeric identifier;

a first signal receiver configured to receive signals to control sensory detectable outputs; and

a multi-state signal generator responsive to signals received by the first signal receiver and configured to output a plurality of sensory detectable signals with each sensory detectable signal corresponding to a particular state of the multi-state signal generator;

the first signal transmitter further configured to transmit with the unique alphanumeric identifier one of a plurality of electronic-device-readable signals with each electronic-device-readable signal corresponding to a particular state of the multi-state signal generator; and

an electronic device comprising;

a second signal receiver configured to receive the signals transmitted from the first signal transmitter;

a second signal transmitter in communication with the first signal receiver and configured to transmit signals to control the sensory detectable signals output;

a user input interface configured to receive user input; and

a game application in communication with the second signal receiver, the second signal transmitter, and the user input interface and responsive to signals received by the second signal receiver and to user input from the user input interface comprising;

a table of known unique alphanumeric identifiers;

a game piece electronic-device-readable signal interpreter in communication with the second signal receiver and configured to receive the unique alphanumeric identifier and game piece electronic-device-readable signal, to query the table to match the unique alphanumeric identifier to a table element, to interpret the game piece electronic-device-readable signal, and to transmit signals to control the sensory detectable outputs to the first receiver through the second signal transmitter in response to the game piece electronic-device-readable signal when the unique alphanumeric identifier matches a table element;

a digital character uniquely associated with the unique alphanumeric identifier; and

a plurality of sequentially accessible gaming program modules wherein a user may accumulate a game score with respectively sequential levels of increasing difficulty featuring the digital character in a digital game environment with the digital character and the digital game environment responsive to user input through the user input interface and to the game piece electronic-device-readable signals where the user accesses the sequentially accessible gaming program modules and increases the difficulty level and the accumulated game score based on the quantity of output from the game piece electronic-device-readable signal interpreter and the quantity and pattern of user input.

2. The gaming system recited in claim 1 wherein the game application further comprises a multiplier program module that multiplies one or more of the difficulty level and the accumulated game score by a predetermined multiple based on the quantity of output from the game piece electronic-device-readable signal interpreter and the quantity and pattern of user input.

3. The gaming system recited in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of mutually attachable physical game pieces wherein each combination of one or more game pieces comprises a unique alphanumeric identifier transmittable by the first signal transmitter.

4. The gaming system recited in claim 3 wherein the game application further comprises a multiplier program module that multiplies one or more of the difficulty level and the accumulated game score by a predetermined multiple based on the quantity of output from the game piece electronic-device-readable signal interpreter and the quantity and pattern of user input.

5. The gaming system recited in claim 3 further comprising each combination of one or more game pieces configured to output one or both of the sensory detectable signals and the electronic-device-readable signals in response to mechanical manipulation of the combination of one or more game pieces.

6. The gaming system recited in claim 5 wherein the plurality of mutually attachable physical game pieces further comprise a combination of two or more of a weapon, a vehicle, a robot, and a character and wherein exclusive game content becomes accessible in the game application for each combination.

7. The gaming system recited in claim 6 wherein the game application further comprises a database of mutually linkable storyline elements wherein each unique alphanumeric identifier corresponds to a combination of one or more storyline elements and wherein the game application progresses through the combination of one or more storyline elements corresponding to the unique alphanumeric identifier.

8. The gaming system recited in claim 7 wherein the game application is further configured to respond to a change in the unique alphanumeric identifier and corresponding combination of one or more storyline elements in response to a change in the configuration of the plurality of mutually attachable physical game pieces.

9. The gaming system recited in claim 6 wherein the game application is further configured to limit the number of unique alphanumeric identifiers to which the game application responds based on the current storyline element.

10. The gaming system recited in claim 3 further comprising the game application configured to connect to a network and access a network site to let users make in-application purchases.

11. The gaming system recited in claim 1 further comprising one or both of the physical game piece responsive to voice commands received in the first receiver and the game application responsive to voice commands received in the second receiver.

12. The gaming system recited in claim 1 wherein the electronic device further comprises:

a camera configured to capture an image of the area viewable by the electronic device;

a display; and

the game application in communication with the camera and the display and configured to combine the image of the area viewable by the electronic device with the digital game environment into an integrated game field on the display and to involve the user, the physical game piece, and the digital character in a game using the integrated game field.

13. The gaming system recited in claim 12 further comprising:

a geographic location sensor configured to create a digital map of the area surrounding the electronic device; and

the game application in communication with the geographic location sensor and configured to expand the integrated game field beyond the area viewable by the electronic device to include the area defined by the digital map.

14. The gaming system recited in claim 1 further comprising the physical game piece configured to output one or both of the sensory detectable signals and the electronic-device-readable signals in response to mechanical manipulation of the physical game piece.

15. The gaming system recited in claim 1 wherein the digital character evolves as the difficulty level increases.

16. A gaming system for integrated computer-related and physical game play interactions comprising:

a plurality of mutually attachable physical game pieces comprising;

a unique alphanumeric identifier for each combination of one or more game pieces;

a first signal transmitter configured to transmit the unique alphanumeric identifier;

a first signal receiver configured to receive signals to control sensory detectable outputs; and

a multi-state signal generator responsive to signals received by the first signal receiver and configured to output a plurality of sensory detectable signals with each sensory detectable signal corresponding to a particular state of the multi-state signal generator;

the first signal transmitter further configured to transmit with the unique alphanumeric identifier one of a plurality of electronic-device-readable signals with each electronic-device-readable signal corresponding to a particular state of the multi-state signal generator; and

an electronic device comprising;

a second signal receiver configured to receive the signals transmitted from the first signal transmitter;

a second signal transmitter in communication with the first signal receiver and configured to transmit signals to control the sensory detectable signals output;

a user input interface configured to receive user input; and

a game application in communication with the second signal receiver, the second signal transmitter, and the user input interface and responsive to signals received by the second signal receiver and to user input from the user input interface comprising;

a table of known unique alphanumeric identifiers;

a game piece electronic-device-readable signal interpreter in communication with the second signal receiver and configured to receive the unique alphanumeric identifier and game piece electronic-device-readable signal, to query the table to match the unique alphanumeric identifier to a table element, to interpret the game piece electronic-device-readable signal, and to transmit signals to control the sensory detectable outputs to the first receiver through the second signal transmitter in response to the game piece electronic-device-readable signal when the unique alphanumeric identifier matches a table element;

a digital character uniquely associated with the unique alphanumeric identifier; and

a plurality of sequentially accessible gaming program modules wherein a user may accumulate a game score with respectively sequential levels of increasing difficulty featuring the digital character in a digital game environment with the digital character and the digital game environment responsive to user input through the user input interface and to the game piece electronic-device-readable signals where the user accesses the sequentially accessible gaming program modules and increases the difficulty level and the accumulated game score based on the quantity of output from the game piece electronic-device-readable signal interpreter and the quantity and pattern of user input.

17. The gaming system recited in claim 16 wherein the game application further comprises a multiplier program module that multiplies one or more of the difficulty level and the accumulated game score by a predetermined multiple based on the quantity of output from the game piece electronic-device-readable signal interpreter and the quantity and pattern of user input.

18. The gaming system recited in claim 16 further comprising each combination of one or more game pieces configured to output one or both of the sensory detectable signals and the electronic-device-readable signals in response to mechanical manipulation of the combination of one or more game pieces.

19. The gaming system recited in claim 16 further comprising the game application configured to connect to a network and access a network site to let users make in-application purchases.

20. A gaming method for integrated computer-related and physical game play interactions comprising:

providing a physical game piece comprising;

transmitting a unique alphanumeric identifier using a first signal transmitter;

receiving signals to control sensory detectable outputs using a first signal receiver;

responding to signals received by the first signal receiver using a multi-state signal generator to output a plurality of sensory detectable signals with each sensory detectable signal corresponding to a particular state of the multi-state signal generator; and

transmitting with the unique alphanumeric identifier one of a plurality of electronic-device-readable signals with each electronic-device-readable signal corresponding to a particular state of the multi-state signal generator using the first signal transmitter; and

providing an electronic device comprising;

receiving the signals transmitted from the first signal transmitter using a second signal receiver;

communicating with the first signal receiver using a second signal transmitter to transmit signals to control the sensory detectable signals output;

receiving user input using a user input interface; and

providing a game application in communication with the second signal receiver, the second signal transmitter, and the user input interface and responsive to signals received by the second signal receiver and to user input from the user input interface comprising;

providing a table of known unique alphanumeric identifiers;

executing a game piece electronic-device-readable signal interpreter in communication with the second signal receiver comprising;

configuring the game piece electronic-device-readable signal interpreter to receive the unique alphanumeric identifier and game piece electronic-device-readable signal;

querying the table to match the unique alphanumeric identifier to a table element;

interpreting the game piece electronic-device-readable signal; and

transmitting signals to control the sensory detectable outputs to the first receiver through the second signal transmitter in response to the game piece electronic-device-readable signal when the unique alphanumeric identifier matches a table element;

providing a digital character uniquely associated with the unique alphanumeric identifier; and

accessing a plurality of sequentially accessible gaming program modules wherein a user may accumulate a game score with respectively sequential levels of increasing difficulty featuring the digital character in a digital game environment with the digital character and the digital game environment responding to user input through the user input interface and to the game piece electronic-device-readable signals where the user accesses the sequentially accessible gaming program modules and increasing the difficulty level and the accumulated game score based on the quantity of output from the game piece electronic-device-readable signal interpreter and the quantity and pattern of user input.