Portable interactive toy with radio frequency tracking device
First Claim
1. A portable wireless interactive toy for amusing or entertaining one or more game participants playing a game in conjunction with a wireless-compatible gaming system in which at least a portion of the game is represented through one or more computer animations displayed on an associated display device and wherein game progress or performance for each individual game participant is simultaneously tracked in accordance with a unique identification number associated with said wireless interactive toy, said wireless interactive toy comprising:
- an elongated body sized and configured to be held and moved freely in the air using a single hand to play said game at least in part by moving the elongated body in free space, said elongated body having an axis of elongation extending from a first end adapted to be held or gripped by a single hand of a game participant to a second end protruding from said first end and being in substantial coaxial alignment therewith;
an effects generator configured to display or produce one or more light, vibration or sound effects; and
a wireless radio frequency (RF) communication device storing a unique identification number for uniquely identifying said wireless interactive toy within said game and for distinguishing said wireless interactive toy from other wireless devices that may be operated by other game participants, said RF communication device comprising a wireless RF transceiver adapted to provide two-way wireless RF communications with a wireless-compatible gaming system and wherein said two-way wireless RF communications include communication of at least said unique identification number;
wherein said portable wireless interactive toy is configured and adapted to automatically establish a wireless communication link with said wireless-compatible gaming system when said wireless interactive toy is operated within a wireless communication range of said wireless-compatible gaming system, further configured to establish said wireless communication link at least in part by;
i) receiving from said wireless-compatible gaming system a first wireless communication that includes a first identification number identifying said wireless-compatible gaming system, and ii) responding to said first wireless communication by transmitting a second wireless communication that includes said first identification number and a second identification number comprising said unique identification number of said wireless RF communication device.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
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.
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Citations
45 Claims
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1. A portable wireless interactive toy for amusing or entertaining one or more game participants playing a game in conjunction with a wireless-compatible gaming system in which at least a portion of the game is represented through one or more computer animations displayed on an associated display device and wherein game progress or performance for each individual game participant is simultaneously tracked in accordance with a unique identification number associated with said wireless interactive toy, said wireless interactive toy comprising:
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an elongated body sized and configured to be held and moved freely in the air using a single hand to play said game at least in part by moving the elongated body in free space, said elongated body having an axis of elongation extending from a first end adapted to be held or gripped by a single hand of a game participant to a second end protruding from said first end and being in substantial coaxial alignment therewith; an effects generator configured to display or produce one or more light, vibration or sound effects; and a wireless radio frequency (RF) communication device storing a unique identification number for uniquely identifying said wireless interactive toy within said game and for distinguishing said wireless interactive toy from other wireless devices that may be operated by other game participants, said RF communication device comprising a wireless RF transceiver adapted to provide two-way wireless RF communications with a wireless-compatible gaming system and wherein said two-way wireless RF communications include communication of at least said unique identification number; wherein said portable wireless interactive toy is configured and adapted to automatically establish a wireless communication link with said wireless-compatible gaming system when said wireless interactive toy is operated within a wireless communication range of said wireless-compatible gaming system, further configured to establish said wireless communication link at least in part by;
i) receiving from said wireless-compatible gaming system a first wireless communication that includes a first identification number identifying said wireless-compatible gaming system, and ii) responding to said first wireless communication by transmitting a second wireless communication that includes said first identification number and a second identification number comprising said unique identification number of said wireless RF communication device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An interactive game for entertaining multiple play participants wherein at least a portion of said game is physically represented in a physical play environment through one or more physical play objects and wherein at least a portion of said game is virtually represented in a virtual play environment through one or more computer animations, said interactive game comprising:
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at least one physical play object configured to be manipulated by one or more play participants in a physical play environment to produce one or more physical effects; at least one gaming system configured to be operated by one or more play participants to produce in a virtual play environment one or more computer-animated visual, aural or tactile effects; at least one wireless receiver adapted to receive wireless input signals from one or more associated portable wireless devices; at least one portable wireless device sized and configured to be held and moved freely in the air by a play participant and operated to play said game at least in part by moving or transporting said portable wireless device within said physical play environment, said at least one portable wireless device comprising a wireless tracking device storing a unique identification number for uniquely identifying said portable wireless device within said game and for distinguishing said portable wireless device from other wireless devices, said tracking device comprising a wireless transmitter adapted to provide wireless communications with said at least one wireless receiver and wherein said wireless communications include communication of at least said unique identification number; and a game control system configured to actuate or control one or more physical effects in said physical play environment and one or more computer-animated effects in said virtual play environment so as to provide an overall interactive game in which game progress or performance of multiple play participants playing said game in both said physical play environment and said virtual play environment are individually tracked according to said received wireless input signals, and wherein said game control system is further configured to adjust a game experience for each said play participant in said physical play environment and/or said virtual play environment based on said tracked game progress or performance. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. An entertainment system for entertaining one or more game participants playing a game in which at least a portion of the game is produced through one or more computer animations displayed on an associated display device and wherein game progress or performance for each individual game participant is tracked simultaneously as said game is played, said entertainment system comprising:
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at least one computer-animated gaming system comprising a computing device configured and adapted to produce one or more computer-animated visual, aural or tactile effects in accordance with a game played by said one or more game participants; a first radio frequency (RF) wireless transceiver configured to communicate with said at least one computer-animated gaming system adapted to provide two-way wireless RF communications with one or more wireless input devices over a wireless communication range of at least 10 feet; at least one wireless motion-sensitive input device sized and configured to be held and moved freely in the air and operated by a game participant using a single hand to play said game at least in part by moving substantially the entire input device in free space, said at least one input device comprising; an elongated body having an axis of elongation extending from a first end adapted to be gripped by a single hand of a game participant to a second end extending coaxially from said first end; a unique identification number for uniquely identifying said at least one input device within said game and for distinguishing said at least one input device from other wireless input devices that may be operated by other game participants; a second RF wireless transceiver adapted to provide two-way wireless RF communications with said first transceiver, wherein said two-way wireless communications include communication of at least said unique identification number; and an effects generator for selectively producing one or more light, vibration or sound effects based on one or more wireless communications received from said at least one computer-animated gaming system; a game control system configured and adapted to actuate or control said one or more computer-animated effects in accordance with said game; and game software configured and adapted to be executed by said game control system, said game software including program instructions for instructing said game control system to;
i) conduct an interactive game in which a virtual play environment is represented through one or more computer animations displayed on an associated display device;
ii) simultaneously track game progress or performance of each game participant playing said game based at least in part on identifying or distinguishing each said wireless communication in accordance with said unique identification number; and
iii) adjust a play experience for each said game participant based on said tracked game progress or performance. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. An amusement attraction for entertaining multiple play participants playing a game wherein at least a portion of said game is physically represented in a physical play environment and wherein at least a portion of said game is virtually represented in a virtual play environment through one or more computer animations, said amusement attraction comprising:
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a physical play environment comprising a play structure, themed play space or entertainment facility configured and arranged to produce one or more physical effects in accordance with a game, said physical play environment configured to support simultaneous use by multiple play participants; a virtual play environment comprising at least one gaming system comprising an associated computing device configured and adapted to produce one or more computer-animated visual, aural or tactile effects in accordance with said game; at least one wireless receiver adapted to receive wireless input signals from one or more associated portable wireless devices and to communicate said wireless input signals to said physical play environment and/or said virtual play environment; at least one portable wireless device sized and configured to be held and moved freely in the air by a play participant and operated to play said game at least in part by moving or transporting said portable wireless device within said physical play environment, said at least one portable wireless device comprising a wireless tracking device storing a unique identification number for uniquely identifying said portable wireless device within said game and for distinguishing said portable wireless device from other wireless devices, said tracking device comprising a wireless transmitter adapted to provide wireless communications with said at least one wireless receiver and wherein said wireless communications include communication of at least said unique identification number; and a game control system for actuating or controlling one or more physical effects in said physical play environment and one or more computer-animated effects in said virtual play environment so as to provide an overall interactive game in which game progress or performance of multiple play participants playing said game in both said physical play environment and said virtual play environment are tracked according to said received wireless input signals, and wherein said game control system is further configured to adjust a game experience for each said play participant in both said physical play environment and said virtual play environment based on said tracked game progress or performance. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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Specification