INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM

• US 20180078853A1
• Filed: 10/11/2017
• Published: 03/22/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MQ Gaming LLC
• Original Assignee: MQ Gaming LLC
• Inventors: Barney, Jonathan A., Weston, Denise Chapman
• Granted Patent: US 10,307,671 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/00 Card games aspects of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions showing representations related to the game A63F13/00; card games played on a gaming machine G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• 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 13/219 for aiming at specific areas on the display, e.g. light-guns
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/25 Output arrangements for video game devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/31 Communication aspects specific to video games, e.g. between several handheld game devices at close range
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/428 involving motion or position input signals, e.g. signals representing the rotation of an input controller or a player's arm motions sensed by accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/497 Partially or entirely replaying previous game actions
• 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 13/822 Strategy games; Role-playing games A63F13/825, A63F13/828 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/825 Fostering virtual characters
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2402 Input by manual operation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2429 IC card, chip card, smart card
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2433 Voice-actuated
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2452 : as a signal
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/248 : Magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2489 : by radio transmitters, e.g. using RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2250/485 : using a handle
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 : using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 : using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1056 : involving pressure sensitive buttons
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 : being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1087 : comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 : the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/402 : Communication between platforms, i.e. physical link to protocol
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/403 : Connection between platform and handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/406 : Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/807 : Role playing or strategy games
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/36 : Details; Accessories
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 : using wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A63J 21/00 : Conjuring appliances; Auxiliary apparatus for conjurers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0487 : using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2354/00 : Aspects of interface with display user
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/16 : Use of wireless transmission of display information
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/18 : Use of optical transmission of display information
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/06 : Remotely controlled electronic signs other than labels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/001 : using specific devices not provided for in groups G09G3/02 - G09G3/36, e.g. using an intermediate record carrier such as a film slide; Projection systems; Display of non-alphanumerical information, solely or in combination with alphanumerical information, e.g. digital display on projected diapositive as background slide projectors per se G03B23/00 = 42 HP

Abstract

A computer-readable storage medium storing program instructions for conducting a game on a gaming system having 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.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. An interactive entertainment system for tracking and entertaining multiple participants as part of an interactive game carried out within an entertainment facility, said interactive entertainment system comprising:

a portable token configured to be held and manipulated by a participant to selectively actuate one or more entertainment effects provided within an entertainment facility, said portable token comprising a radio frequency (RF) transceiver configured to wirelessly transmit to one or more wireless-compatible devices a unique token identifier;

a first wireless-compatible interactive play element configured to produce a first participant-actuated entertainment effect associated with a first game objective;

a second wireless-compatible interactive play element configured to produce a second participant-actuated entertainment effect associated with a second game objective;

a game control system communicatively coupled to said first and second wireless-compatible interactive play elements and configured to track the progress of said participant in said interactive game based on information communicated by said first and second wireless-compatible interactive play elements, and wherein said information comprises said unique token identifier; and

at least one communication interface communicatively coupled to said game control system and configured to communicate to said participant a completion status of said first and second game objectives.

3. The interactive entertainment system of claim 2, wherein said portable token comprises a toy wand.

4. The interactive entertainment system of claim 2, wherein said first participant-actuated entertainment effect comprises movement of one or more physical objects.

5. The interactive entertainment system of claim 4, wherein said second participant-actuated entertainment effect comprises a display of one or more computer-animations.

6. The interactive entertainment system of claim 2, wherein said game control system is configured to adjust said game based on the tracked progress of said participant.

7. The interactive entertainment system of claim 2, wherein said game control system is configured to allow or deny said participant to actuate said second participant-actuated entertainment effect based on whether said participant has completed said first game objective.

8. The interactive entertainment system of claim 2, further comprising a digital camera communicatively coupled to said game control system and configured to capture one or more digital images of said participant.

9. An entertainment system for entertaining one or more participants as part of an interactive game carried out within a physical play environment, said entertainment system comprising:

a portable wand configured to be manipulated by a participant using a single hand to selectively actuate one or more entertainment effects provided within a physical play environment, said portable wand comprising a radio frequency (RF) transceiver configured to wirelessly transmit to one or more wireless-compatible devices a first selection of information comprising a unique identifier uniquely identifying said portable wand;

a first wireless-compatible interactive play element configured to produce a first wand-actuated entertainment effect associated with a first game objective;

a second wireless-compatible interactive play element configured to produce a second wand-actuated entertainment effect associated with a second game objective; and

a host computer system communicatively coupled to said first and second wireless-compatible interactive play elements and configured to;

i) receive from said first wireless-compatible interactive play element a second selection of information indicating the completion by said participant of said first game objective, ii) update a game progress log for said participant based on said second selection of information, and iii) communicate to said second wireless-compatible interactive play element a third selection of information that determines whether said participant is allowed or denied to complete said second game objective, and wherein said third selection of information is based on said game progress log for said participant.

10. The entertainment system of claim 9, wherein said second selection of information comprises said unique identifier.

11. The entertainment system of claim 9, further comprising at least one communication interface communicatively coupled to said host computer system and configured to communicate to said participant the completion status of said first and second game objectives according to said game progress log.

12. The entertainment system of claim 9, wherein said first wand-actuated entertainment effect comprises movement of one or more physical objects.

13. The entertainment system of claim 12, wherein said second wand-actuated entertainment effect comprises a display of one or more computer-animations.

14. The entertainment system of claim 9, further comprising a digital camera communicatively coupled to said host computer system and configured to capture one or more digital images of said participant.

15. An entertainment system for entertaining one or more participants as part of an interactive game carried out within an entertainment venue, said entertainment system comprising:

a portable token configured to be moved or positioned by a participant to selectively actuate one or more entertainment effects provided within an entertainment venue, said portable token comprising a radio frequency (RF) transceiver configured to wirelessly transmit to one or more wireless-compatible devices a first selection of information comprising a unique token identifier;

a first wireless-compatible interactive play element configured to produce a first participant-actuated entertainment effect associated with a first game objective;

a second wireless-compatible interactive play element configured to produce a second participant-actuated entertainment effect associated with a second game objective;

a host computer system communicatively coupled to said first and second wireless-compatible interactive play elements and configured to;

i) receive from said first wireless-compatible interactive play element a second selection of information indicating the completion by said game participant of said first game objective, ii) update a game progress log for said participant based on said second selection of information, and iii) communicate to said second wireless-compatible interactive play element a third selection of information based on said game progress log for said participant; and

at least one communication interface communicatively coupled to said host computer system and configured to communicate to said participant a fourth selection of information comprising the completion status of said first and second game objectives according to said game progress log for said participant.

16. The interactive entertainment system of claim 15, wherein said portable token comprises a hand-held wand configured to be manipulated by said participant using a single hand to selectively actuate each of said first and second participant-actuated entertainment effects.

17. The entertainment system of claim 15, wherein said second selection of information comprises said unique token identifier.

18. The entertainment system of claim 15, wherein said third selection of information determines whether said participant is allowed or denied to selectively actuate said second participant-actuated entertainment effect.

19. The entertainment system of claim 15, wherein said first participant-actuated entertainment effect comprises movement of one or more physical objects.

20. The entertainment system of claim 19, wherein said second participant-actuated entertainment effect comprises a display of one or more computer-animations.

21. The entertainment system of claim 15, further comprising a digital camera communicatively coupled to said host computer system and configured to capture one or more digital images of said participant.