Multiply interconnectable environmentally interactive character simulation module method and system

• US 7,704,146 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2008
• Issued: 04/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Conceptioneering Limited
• Original Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Inventors: Ellis, Anthony Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Hotaling, II; John M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hylinski; Steven J.
• Application Number:
  US12/098,963
• Publication Number:
  US 20080188300A1
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• Field of Search: 463 30- 33, 463/36, 463/37, 463/40, 463/42, 463/46, 463/47
• US Class Current: 463/31
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• 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 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/52 involving aspects of the displayed game scene
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1006 having additional degrees of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6063 for sound processing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/63 for controlling the execution of the game in time
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6607 for animating game characters, e.g. skeleton kinematics
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 3/004 Artificial life, i.e. computing arrangements simulating life

Abstract

The present invention relates to a game, including a first module having a housing, a processor, a display operably coupled to the processor and an electrical contact positioned such that access is available to the electrical contact of the first module through the first module housing, and a second module having a housing, a processor, a display operably coupled to the processor and an electrical contact positioned such that access is available to the electrical contact of the second module through the second module housing, the electrical contact of the second module configured to contact the electrical contact of the first module, allowing the processor of the first module to communicate with the processor of the second module. Wherein when the processor of the second module is in communication with the processor of the first module, the first module display and the second module display are configured to each display a portion of a the game, each such portion configured to not overlap each other such portion.

Claims

1. A game, comprising:

a first module having a first electrical contact, a first processor and a first display, the processor configured to display a first character on the display, the character having a first set of traits; and

a second module having a second electrical contact, a second processor and a second display, the processor configured to display a second character on the display, the character having a second set of traits;

wherein the first electrical contact and second electrical contact are configured to electrically couple in two or more interconnection configurations, each interconnection configuration allowing the first and second processors to communicate, wherein the processor is programmed to display a first animation sequence if the first module and the second module are arranged in a first interconnection configuration, and wherein the processor is programmed to display a second animation sequence if the module and the second module are arranged in a second interconnection configuration, the second interconnection configuration being different from the first interconnection configuration, the second animation sequence being different from the second animation sequence.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each of said modules is operable to affect play of the game.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein play of the game is at least partly conducted by connecting additional modules to the first and second modules.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the connected modules are operable to simulate movement of a simulated character from one connected modules to another connected module.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein at least one of the connected modules includes a orientation sensor operably coupled to a processor.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein at least one of the connected modules includes a light sensor operably coupled to a processor.