Physical data building blocks system for video game interaction
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for physical interaction with a host device application program comprising:
- a host device with an associated interactive application;
a plurality of physical building blocks each having at least one connector operable for providing connection paths for input and output for communications to one or more of the remaining blocks in said plurality wherein the at least one connector comprises a first connector moiety further including a power receptacle cylinder and a data receptacle cylinder and a second connector moiety including a power connection mating cylinder and data connection mating cylinder, and providing, means for detection of connection paths through the plurality of physical blocks;
a bidirectional interface for the connection paths of the plurality of physical blocks to the host device; and
,means for altering the interactive application responsive to the connection paths.
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Abstract
A system for video game physical interaction is provided for a host device with an associated interactive application by a plurality of physical building blocks each having at least one input connection point and one output connection point operable for connection to one or more of the remaining blocks. Detectable connection paths through the plurality of blocks allow determination of the shape of a structure created by the blocks and interfacing of the connection paths of the plurality of blocks to the host device creates an input to the interactive application. The application is then altered responsive to the connection paths.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A system for physical interaction with a host device application program comprising:
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a host device with an associated interactive application; a plurality of physical building blocks each having at least one connector operable for providing connection paths for input and output for communications to one or more of the remaining blocks in said plurality wherein the at least one connector comprises a first connector moiety further including a power receptacle cylinder and a data receptacle cylinder and a second connector moiety including a power connection mating cylinder and data connection mating cylinder, and providing, means for detection of connection paths through the plurality of physical blocks; a bidirectional interface for the connection paths of the plurality of physical blocks to the host device; and
,means for altering the interactive application responsive to the connection paths. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11)
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- 4. The system of claim wherein the at least one connection point comprises a plurality of geometrically spaced connectors having a first moiety on one face of each block and a second moiety on a second face of each block to removably and selectably attach to at least one first moiety from an adjacent block forming a structure.
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12. A system for physical interaction with a host device application program comprsing:
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a host device with an associated interactive application; a plurality of physical building blocks each having a plurality of geometrically spaced connectors having a first moiety on one face of each block and a second moiety on a second face of each block to removably and selectably attach to at least one first moiety from an adjacent block forming a structure, each connector providing connection paths for input and output for communications to one or more of the remaining physical blocks in said plurality, said at least one connector further providing power distribution to one or more of the remaining physical blocks in said plurality, one of said plurality of physical blocks comprising a base block; a microprocessor in each physical block connected to receive communications through each connector, each block having a unique identifier and each microprocessor, in response to a request signal from the host, providing the identifier and first moiety geometric location for each adjacent block attached to each second moiety on said each block for detection of connection paths through the plurality of blocks wherein relative geometric position of adjacent blocks is determined by detection of connection paths through the attached first and second moieties of the adjacent blocks and responsive to a second request signal from the host activating an outgoing data display element in the block; an external communications port integral to the base block as an interface for the connection paths of the plurality of physical blocks to the host device; and
,means for altering the interactive application responsive to the connection paths.
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13. A method for interactive play with a video game comprising the steps of:
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providing a base block for connection to a video game console and commumcation with the video game; providing a plurality of phvsical blocks for physical interconnection to the base block; constructing a structure by attachment of the plurality of blocks to the base block; reading the structure into the video game through the base block with determination of relative block orientation by identification of an electrical connection of angularly spaced data contacts in a first connector moiety and a second connector moiety on each block having mating angularly spaced data contacts received in the first connector moiety of an adjacent block; and
,displaying the structure in the virtual world of the video game as a virtual structure. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification