Method of game play using RFID tracking device

• US 6,761,637 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2001
• Issued: 07/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: MQ Gaming LLC
• Original Assignee: Creative Kingdoms LLC (Great Wolf Resorts Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Weston, Denise Chapman, Barney, Jonathan A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica
• Application Number:
  US09/792,282
• Publication Number:
  US 20010034257A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,237 Days
• Field of Search: 463/40, 463/41, 463/42, 463/43, 463/1, 273/440, 472/128, 472/136, 472/133, 472/137, 482/35, 482/36
• US Class Current: 463/42
• 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 1/04 Card games combined with other games
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• 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 13/327 using wireless networks, e.g. Wi-Fi® or piconet
• 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 13/71 using secure communication between game devices and game servers, e.g. by encrypting game data or authenticating players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/822 Strategy games; Role-playing games A63F13/825, A63F13/828 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/86 Watching games played by other players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2429 IC card, chip card, smart card
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2489 by radio transmitters, e.g. using RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• 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 2300/532 using secure communication, e.g. by encryption, authentication
• 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 2300/807 : Role playing or strategy games
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/183 : electric
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 31/00 : Amusement arrangements hoop exercising apparatus driven by the user A63B19/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 31/007 : involving water
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 : using wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A63J 21/00 : Conjuring appliances; Auxiliary apparatus for conjurers

Abstract

A method of interactive game play is provided wherein a seemingly magical wand toy is provided for enabling a trained user to electronically send and receive information to and from other wand toys, a master system and/or to actuate various play effects within a play environment. The toy wand or other seemingly magical object is configured to use a send/received radio frequency communications protocol which provides a basic foundation for a complex, interactive entertainment system to create a seemingly magical interactive play experience.

Claims

1. An interactive game for amusing and entertaining one or more game participants, comprising:

one or more transponder devices for facilitating storage and retrieval of selected information pertaining to individual game participants and/or groups of game participants playing the game, said transponder devices being sized and adapted to be worn and/or otherwise transported by each game participant and/or group of game participants while playing said game;

one or more reader devices adapted to retrieve said stored information from each said transponder device;

one or more writer devices adapted to selectively update and/or modify said stored information on each said transponder device in accordance with the completion by game participants and/or groups of game participants of one or more defined gaming sequences or protocols;

at least one interactive gaming effect adapted to communicate with one or more of said reader devices and to produce a first result if a first set of conditions represented by said stored information is satisfied and to produce a second result if a second set of conditions represented by said stored information is satisfied;

at least one of said transponder devices being operatively associated with a wireless wand actuator device configured and adapted to enable a game participant to electronically and wirelessly actuate at least one or more of said interactive gaming effects by touching, shaking, twisting and/or pointing the wand in a predetermined manner to create a seemingly magical play experience;

whereby game participants and/or groups of game participants are encouraged to complete said defined gaming sequences or protocols in order to produce the necessary stored information to satisfy either said first or second set of conditions and thereby produce either said first or second result as desired.

2. The interactive game of claim 1 wherein at least one of said transponder devices comprises a radio-frequency transmitter.

3. The interactive game of claim 2 wherein said at least one transponder device comprises an RFID tag.

4. The interactive game of claim 3 wherein said RFID tag is configured to operate at one or more of the following frequencies:

134.2 kHz, 123.2 kHz or 13.56 mHz.

5. The interactive game of claim 3 wherein said RFID tag comprises a 13.56 mHz read/write label tag.

6. The interactive game of claim 3 wherein said RFID tag comprises a 134.2 kHz and/or 123.2 kHz, 23 mm glass transponder.

7. The interactive game of claim 2 wherein said at least one transponder device is configured and adapted to use a send/receive radio frequency communication protocol.

8. The interactive game of claim 1 wherein at least one of said transponder devices comprises an infrared LED transmitter.

9. The interactive game of claim 1 wherein said one or more transponder devices are adapted to utilize one or more wireless communication protocols selected from the group consisting of infrared-, digital-, analog, magnetic, AM/FM-, laser-, visual-, audio-, and/or ultrasonic.

10. The interactive game of claim 1 wherein said one or more transponder devices are embodied in a portable structure comprising one or more of the following:

identification badge, trading card, collectible sports card, role-play character card, book mark, necklace, pendant, key-chain, trinket, token and/or wand.

11. The interactive game of claim 1 wherein each said transponder device is adapted to store certain information uniquely identifying one or more game participants and/or group of game participants.

12. The interactive game of claim 11 wherein said stored information includes one or more unique identification numbers.

13. The interactive game of claim 11 wherein said stored information includes one or more of the following:

name, age, address, phone number, fax number, internet address, e-mail address.

14. The interactive game of claim 1 wherein each said transponder device is adapted to store information representing points scored and/or levels achieved by each game participant and/or group of game participants.

15. The interactive game of claim 1 wherein said one or more reader devices and/or said writer devices are configured to operate at one or more of the following frequencies:

134.2 kHz, 123.2 kHz or 13.56 mHz.

16. The interactive game of claim 1 wherein at least one of said one or more reader devices and said one or more writer devices comprise a single integral reader/writer device.

17. The interactive game of claim 1 wherein said defined gaming sequence comprises one or more of the following elements:

role playing, reading, memory stimulation, tactile coordination.

18. The interactive game of claim 1 wherein said defined gaming sequence requires a group of game participants to work together.

19. The interactive game of claim 1 wherein said interactive gaming effect comprises awarding a game participant with additional gaming points, game levels and/or rank.

20. The interactive game of claim 1 wherein said game comprises a role play game using an imaginary game character and wherein said interactive gaming effect comprises awarding certain enhanced attributes to said game character.

21. The interactive game of claim 20 wherein said enhanced attributes comprise one or more of the following:

magic skill level, magic strength, flight ability, spell-casting abilities.

22. The interactive game of claim 1 wherein said game comprises a role-play fantasy character game and wherein said one or more transponder devices comprise electronically readable role-play cards comprising a paper, cardboard or plastic substrate having a front side and a back side, the front side being imprinted with graphics, photos, or other information representative of a desired role-play character, the back side having affixed thereon an RF tag programmable to contain certain character attributes and whereby the stored character attributes may be easily and conveniently transported to RF-equipped play facilities, computer games, video games, home game consoles, and/or hand-held game units.

23. The interactive game of claim 1 wherein said game comprises a collectible trading card game and wherein said one or more transponder devices comprise electronically readable trading cards depicting various real or imaginary persons, characters and/or objects and wherein each card has recorded or stored thereon in an electronically readable format certain selected information pertaining to the particular person, character or object, such as performance statistics, traits/powers, or special abilities, the information being stored on an RFID tracking tag associated with each card and which can be read electronically and wirelessly over a predetermined range greater than about 1 cm when placed in the proximity of one or more of said reader devices.

24. The interactive game of claim 1 wherein said interactive gaming effect comprises an access control device and wherein said first result comprises allowing access by one or more game participants to a particular defined play station area or zone and wherein said second result comprises denying access by one or more game participants to said defined play station area or zone.

25. The interactive game of claim 24 wherein said defined play station area or zone comprises one or more of the following:

play area within a play structure, game level within a computer gaming platform, home game console, arcade game console, video game, hand-held game device, or internet gaming device.

26. The interactive game of claim 1 wherein said interactive gaming effect comprises selectively actuating one or more of the following:

projectile accelerators, cannons, interactive targets, fountains, geysers, cranes, filter relays, lighting, sound, mechanical actuators, or pneumatic actuators.

27. The interactive game of claim 1 wherein said reader devices and said writer devices are distributed throughout a gaming facility and wherein said game is carried out within said facility.

28. The interactive game of claim 27 wherein said gaming facility comprises an amusement park, family entertainment center, restaurant, arcade or amusement center.

29. The interactive game of claim 1 wherein said reader devices and said writer devices are operatively associated with one or more of the following:

entertainment center, television, video, radio, computer software program, game console, or web site.

30. The interactive game of claim 29 further comprising a wireless actuator device or wand configured and adapted to enable a game participant to electronically and wirelessly actuate one or more of said interactive gaming effects to create a seemingly magical play experience.

31. An interactive game for amusing and entertaining one or more game participants, comprising:

one or more transponder devices for facilitating storage and retrieval of selected information pertaining to individual game participants and/or groups of game participants playing the game, said transponder devices being sized and adapted to be worn and/or otherwise transported by each game participant and/or group of game participants while playing said game;

one or more reader devices adapted to retrieve said stored information from each said transponder device;

one or more writer devices adapted to selectively update and/or modify said stored information on each said transponder device in accordance with the completion by game participants and/or groups of game participants of one or more defined gaming sequences or protocols, said reader devices and said writer devices being operatively associated with one or more of the following;

entertainment center, television, video, radio, computer software program, game console, or web site;

at least one interactive gaming effect adapted to communicate with one or more of said reader devices and to produce a first result if a first set of conditions represented by said stored information is satisfied and to produce a second result if a second set of conditions represented by said stored information is satisfied; and

a wireless actuator device or wand configured and adapted to enable a game participant to electronically and wirelessly actuate one or more of said interactive gaming effects to create a seemingly magical play experience and wherein said wireless actuator device or wand comprises one or more combination wheels having various symbols and/or images thereon which may be rotated to produce a desired pattern of symbols for actuating a particular interactive gaming effect;

whereby game participants and/or groups of game participants are encouraged to complete said defined gaming sequences or protocols in order to produce the necessary stored information to satisfy either said first or second set of conditions and thereby produce either said first or second result as desired.

32. A game for amusing and entertaining one or more game participants within a play facility, comprising:

one or more wand devices for facilitating storage and retrieval of selected information pertaining to individual game participants and/or groups of game participants playing the game, said wand devices being sized and adapted to be transported by each game participant and/or group of game participants while playing said game and being further configured and adapted to produce a desired effect by touching, shaking, twisting and/or pointing the wand in a predetermined manner to create a seemingly magical play experience;

one or more reader devices distributed throughout said play facility and adapted to retrieve said stored information from each said wand device when in proximity thereof;

one or more writer devices adapted to selectively update and/or modify said stored information on each said wand device in accordance with the completion by game participants and/or groups of game participants of one or more defined gaming sequences or protocols;

at least one interactive gaming effect associated with one or more of said reader devices and to produce a first result if a first set of conditions represented by said stored information is satisfied and to produce a second result if a second set of conditions represented by said stored information is satisfied.

33. The game of claim 32 wherein said one or more wand devices comprises a radio-frequency transmitter.

34. The game of claim 32 wherein said one or more wand devices comprises an RFID tag.

35. The game of claim 34 wherein said RFID tag comprises a radio-frequency transceiver configured to operate at one or more of the following frequencies:

134.2 kHz, 123.2 kHz or 13.56 mHz.

36. The game of claim 32 wherein said wand comprises an elongated rod having an RFID tag transponder at the tip thereof which game participants may selectively bring into proximity with one or more of said reader devices to actuate an associated gaming effect.

37. The game of claim 32 wherein said RFID tag comprises 134.2 kHz and/or 123.2 kHz, 23 mm glass transponder.

38. The game of claim 32 wherein said wand device further comprises one or more infrared LED transmitters.

39. The game of claim 32 further comprising one or more transponder devices embodied in a portable structure comprising one or more of the following:

identification badge, trading card, collectible sports card, role-play character card, book mark, necklace, pendant, key-chain, trinket, and/or token.

40. The game of claim 32 wherein each wand device is adapted to store certain information uniquely identifying one or more game participants and/or group of game participants.

41. The game of claim 40 wherein said stored information includes one or more unique identification numbers.

42. The game of claim 40 wherein said stored information includes one or more of the following:

name, age, address, phone number, fax number, internet address, e-mail address.

43. The game of claim 32 wherein each said wand device is adapted to store information representing points scored and/or levels achieved by each game participant and/or group of game participants.

44. The game of claim 32 wherein said defined gaming sequence comprises one or more of the following elements:

role playing, reading, memory stimulation, tactile coordination.

45. The game of claim 32 wherein said defined gaming sequence requires a group of game participants to work together to achieve a common goal.

46. The game of claim 32 wherein said interactive gaming effect comprises rewarding a game participant with additional gaming points, game levels and/or ranks.

47. The game of claim 32 wherein said game comprises a role play game using an imaginary game character and wherein said interactive gaming effect comprises awarding certain enhanced attributes to said game character.

48. The game of claim 47 wherein said enhanced attributes comprise one or more of the following:

magic skill level, magic strength, flight ability, spell-casting abilities.

49. The game of claim 32 wherein said game comprises a role-play fantasy character game and wherein said game further comprises one or more electronically readable role-play cards comprising a paper, cardboard or plastic substrate having a front side and a back side, the front side being imprinted with graphics, photos, or other information representative of a desired role-play character, the back side having affixed thereon an RF tag programmable to contain certain character attributes and whereby the stored character attributes may be transported to RF-equipped play facilities, computer games, video games, home game consoles, and/or hand-held game units.

50. The game of claim 32 wherein said game comprises a collectible trading card game and wherein said game further comprises one or more electronically readable trading cards depicting various real or imaginary persons, characters and/or objects and wherein each card has recorded or stored thereon in an electronically readable format certain selected information pertaining to the particular person, character or object, such as performance statistics, traits/powers, or special abilities, the information being stored on an RFID tracking tag associated with each card and which can be read electronically and wirelessly over a predetermined range greater than about 1 cm when placed in the proximity of said one or more of said reader devices.

51. The game of claim 32 wherein said interactive gaming effect comprises an access control device wherein said first result comprises allowing access by one or more game participants to a play station area or zone and wherein said second result comprises denying access by one or more game participants to said defined play station area or zone.

52. The game of claim 32 wherein said interactive gaming effect comprises selectively actuating one or more of the following:

projectile accelerators, cannons, interactive targets, fountains, geysers, cranes, filter relays, lighting, sound, mechanical actuators, or pneumatic actuators.

53. The game of claim 32 wherein said gaming facility comprises an amusement park, family entertainment center, restaurant, arcade or amusement center.

54. The game of claim 32 wherein said reader devices and said writer devices are operatively associated with one or more of the following:

entertainment center, television, video, radio, computer software program, game console, or web site.

55. A game for amusing and entertaining one or more game participants within a play facility, comprising:

one or more wand devices for facilitating storage and retrieval of selected information pertaining to individual game participants and/or groups of game participants playing the game, said wand devices being sized and adapted to be transported by each game participant and/or group of game participants while playing said game wherein each said wand device further comprises one or more combination wheels having various symbols and/or images thereon which may be rotated by game participants to produce a desired pattern of symbols;

one or more reader devices distributed throughout said play facility and adapted to retrieve said stored information from each said wand device when in proximity thereof;

one or more writer devices adapted to selectively update and/or modify said stored information on each said wand device in accordance with the completion by game participants and/or groups of game participants of one or more defined gaming sequences or protocols;

at least one interactive gaming effect associated with one or more of said reader devices and to produce a first result if a first set of conditions represented by said stored information is satisfied and to produce a second result if a second set of conditions represented by said stored information is satisfied.

56. A fantasy role-play game for amusing and entertaining one or more game participants, comprising:

a themed play facility or play structure comprising multiple play areas, play elements and play effects adapted and configured for carrying out a desired fantasy role-play experience;

one or more wireless wand actuators configured and adapted to wirelessly actuate at least one of said play effects;

one or more role-play fantasy character cards comprising a substrate having a front side and a back side, the front side being imprinted with graphics, photos, and/or other information representative of a desired role-play character, the back side or front side having affixed thereon or embedded therein an electronically-readable information storage device programmable to contain certain stored information pertaining to selected character attributes, game character developments, and/or game participant information;

a plurality of reader devices associated with one or more gaming platforms distributed throughout said play facility or play structure and adapted and configured to retrieve said stored information from each said character card and to communicate said information to said gaming platform;

whereby said gaming platform is thereby able to uniquely modify a selected gaming experience based on the information stored on each said role-play card.

57. The fantasy role-play game of claim 56 further comprising a writer device adapted to selectively update and/or modify said stored information on each said character card in accordance with the completion by game participants and/or groups of game participants of one or more defined gaming sequences or protocols.

58. The fantasy role-play game of claim 57 wherein said defined gaming sequence requires a group of game participants to work together.

59. The fantasy role-play game of claim 56 wherein said information storage device comprises one or more of the following:

radio-frequency transmitter, RFID tag, and/or magnetic strip.

60. The fantasy role-play game of claim 56 wherein said information storage device comprises and RFID tag configured to operate at one or more of the following frequencies:

134.2 kHz, 123.2 kHz or 13.56 mHz.

61. The fantasy role-play game of claim 60 wherein said RFID tag comprises a 13.56 mHz read/write label tag.

62. The fantasy role-play game of claim 56 wherein said information storage device has stored thereon information representing points scored and/or levels achieved by each game participant and/or group of game participants.

63. The fantasy role-play game of claim 56 wherein said information storage device has stored thereon information representing certain role-play character attributes comprising one or more of the following:

magic skill level, magic strength, flight ability, spell-casting abilities.

64. A method for carrying out a magical fantasy role-play gaming experience comprising the following steps:

providing a themed play facility or play structure comprising multiple play areas and one or more wireless interactive play effects arranged and adapted to enable play participants to carry out a desired fantasy role-play gaming experience;

providing one or more wireless wand actuators configured and adapted to wirelessly actuate at least one of said wireless interactive play effects by moving, touching, shaking, twisting and/or pointing the wand in a predetermined manner; and

moving, touching, shaking, twisting and/or pointing the wand in said predetermined manner to actuate said at least one interactive play effect to create a seemingly magical play experience.

65. The method of claim 64 wherein at least one of said wand actuators comprises an elongated rod having an RFID tag transponder at the tip thereof which play participants may selectively bring into proximity with a wireless receiver or reader device.

66. The method of claim 65 comprising the further step of hiding or concealing one or more of said wireless receiver or reader devices within said play facility or play structure in such a manner that they can be discovered by one or more play participants using said wireless wand actuator.

67. The method of claim 64 comprising the further step of storing certain information uniquely identifying one or more play participants and/or group of play participants and/or each said wand actuator.

68. The method of claim 64 comprising the further step of storing information representing points scored and/or levels achieved by each play participant and/or group of game participants.

69. The method of claim 64 comprising the further step of creating or defining information representing an imaginary role play game character and wherein at least one of said interactive play effects comprises awarding certain enhanced attributes or abilities to said game character.

70. The method of claim 69 comprising the further step of storing or recording said information representing an imaginary role play game character on one or more electronically readable role-play cards comprising a paper, cardboard or plastic substrate having a front side and a back side, the front side being imprinted with graphics, photos, or other information representative of a desired role-play character and an RF tag programmable to contain certain character attributes and whereby the stored character attributes may be transported to RF-equipped play facilities, computer games, video games, home game consoles, and/or hand-held game units.

71. The method of claim 64 wherein at least one of said interactive play effects comprises an access control device for allowing or denying access to one or more of said play areas.

75. The method of claim 71 comprising the further step of creating or defining information representing an imaginary role play game character and wherein at least one of said interactive play effects comprises awarding certain enhanced attributes or abilities to said game character.

76. The method of claim 75 comprising the further step of storing or recording said information representing an imaginary role play game character on one or more electronically readable role-play cards comprising a paper, cardboard or plastic substrate having a front side and a back side, the front side being imprinted with graphics, photos, or other information representative of a desired role-play character and an RF tag programmable to contain certain character attributes and whereby the stored character attributes may be transported to RF-equipped play facilities, computer games, video games, home game consoles, and/or hand-held game units.

77. The method of claim 71 wherein at least one of said interactive play effects comprises an access control device for allowing or denying access to one or more other of said interactive play effects.

72. A method for carrying out a magical fantasy play experience comprising the following steps:

moving, touching, shaking, twisting and/or pointing a hand-held wireless wand actuator in a predetermined learned manner to thereby cause said wireless wand actuator to emit a particular desired wireless actuation signal, said wireless actuation signal conveying at least a portion of information identifying said wand actuator and/or a user of said wand actuator;

receiving said wireless actuation signal;

communicating said received wireless actuation signal to a control module operatively associated with one or more interactive play effects; and

actuating or controlling said one or more interactive play effects in accordance with the received wireless actuation signal to create a seemingly magical experience.

73. The method of claim 72 wherein said wand actuator comprises an elongated rod having an RFID tag transponder at the tip thereof which play participants may selectively bring into proximity with a wireless receiver or reader device.

74. The method of claim 73 comprising the further step of hiding or concealing one or more of said wireless receiver or reader devices within a play facility or play structure in such a manner that they can be discovered by one or more play participants using said wireless wand actuator.