Apparatus and methods of physical game components

• US 8,206,217 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2007
• Issued: 06/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vanav Holdings
• Original Assignee: Nicholas J. Witchey
• Inventors: Witchey, Nicholas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Suhol, Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hsu, Ryan
• Application Number:
  US11/676,780
• Publication Number:
  US 20070197297A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,953 Days
• Field of Search: 463/29, 463/40, 463/42, 463/43, 700/91
• US Class Current: 463/29
• 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 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• 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 13/792 for payment purposes, e.g. monthly subscriptions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/85 Providing additional services to players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/532 using secure communication, e.g. by encryption, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/575 for trading virtual items
• 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 9/24 Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for video games A63F13/00; computerized gaming systems G07F17/32

Abstract

Systems, apparatus, and methods relating to a physical object that are associated with a virtual game world are described. Some embodiments of the physical object have an in-game value within the virtual game world. Software operating the virtual game world ascribes purchasing power or attributes having offensive, defensive, opportunity, or set values as their in-game values. Methods associated with the subject matter relate to relocating an asset of the game component from one asset storage area to another asset storage area. When relocated, an asset'"'"'s authenticity is validated, retrieved from a first storage area, exchanged over a communications interface, or stored in a second asset storage area.

Claims

1. A method of relocating an asset of a game component, comprising:

creating a multi-level real-world component production rarity policy and a corresponding multi-level in-game rarity policy;

providing a first physical real world collectible game component having (1) a first asset storage area storing an asset, (2) a first asset communication interface, and (3) a corresponding virtual representation having an in-game value according to the asset in a virtual game hosted by virtual game world (VGW) server, where the first physical game component is physically distinct from computers associated with the VGW, and is produced according to the real-world component production rarity policy associated with the in-game rarity policy of the virtual representation in the VGW and that is reflected in the asset;

providing access to a second, different physical real world collectible game component having (1) a second asset storage area that is empty, and (2) a second asset communication interface connected to the virtual game world (VGW) server, where the second physical game component is physically distinct from computers associated with VGW, and is produced according to the real-world component production rarity policy associated with the in-game rarity policy;

authenticating a first player as owner of the first physical game component and authenticating a second, different player as owner of the second physical game component;

validating, by the VGW server, the asset'"'"'s authenticity;

after authentication of the players and validation of the asset'"'"'s authenticity, retrieving remotely through the first asset communication interface, by the VGW server, the asset from the first asset storage area over a network; and

storing remotely through the second asset communication interface and over the network, by the VGW server, the asset in the second asset storage area of the second physical game component, where the asset ascribes the second physical game component'"'"'s virtual representation the in-game value according to the asset.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising securing a connection between the first game component and the VGW server and using the secure connection to validate, and to retrieve the asset.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising deleting the asset from the first asset storage area.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprises the VGW server exchanging the asset through a communication interface proxy.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising validating an authenticity of the second physical game component.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing the first physical real world collectible game component includes producing a real world object as the first physical game component according to the real-world component production rarity policy that corresponds with the in-game rarity policy, the real world object selected from the group consisting of:

a die, and a game board.