Portable gaming device and gaming system combining both physical and virtual play elements
First Claim
1. A portable gaming device for amusing or entertaining one or more game participants playing a game in which a computer-generated play environment is represented through one or more computer-animated visual, aural or tactile effects, said portable gaming device comprising:
- a body comprising an internal cavity sized and configured to receive one or more batteries and associated circuitry;
non-volatile memory configured to store at least one unique identifier for uniquely identifying said portable gaming device;
a first radio frequency (RF) transceiver configured and adapted to provide medium-range two-way wireless communication with a first wireless-compatible device; and
a second RF transceiver configured and adapted to provide short-range two-way wireless communication with a second wireless-compatible device, wherein said second wireless-compatible device comprises a radio frequency identification RFID tag and wherein said second RF transceiver comprises an RFID reader device configured and adapted to exchange one or more wireless communications with said RFID tag when said RFID reader device and said RFID tag are within communication range of one another and wherein said short-range two-way communication is facilitated at least in part through inductive coupling between said second RF transceiver and said second wireless-compatible 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.
1242 Citations
50 Claims
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1. A portable gaming device for amusing or entertaining one or more game participants playing a game in which a computer-generated play environment is represented through one or more computer-animated visual, aural or tactile effects, said portable gaming device comprising:
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a body comprising an internal cavity sized and configured to receive one or more batteries and associated circuitry; non-volatile memory configured to store at least one unique identifier for uniquely identifying said portable gaming device; a first radio frequency (RF) transceiver configured and adapted to provide medium-range two-way wireless communication with a first wireless-compatible device; and a second RF transceiver configured and adapted to provide short-range two-way wireless communication with a second wireless-compatible device, wherein said second wireless-compatible device comprises a radio frequency identification RFID tag and wherein said second RF transceiver comprises an RFID reader device configured and adapted to exchange one or more wireless communications with said RFID tag when said RFID reader device and said RFID tag are within communication range of one another and wherein said short-range two-way communication is facilitated at least in part through inductive coupling between said second RF transceiver and said second wireless-compatible device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A game for amusing or entertaining one or more game participants wherein at least a first portion of said game is virtually represented through one or more computer-animated visual, aural or tactile effects and wherein at least a second portion of said game is physically represented through one or more radio frequency identification (RFID)-tagged items, said game comprising:
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a first radio frequency (RF) transceiver configured and adapted to provide medium-range two-way wireless communication with a first wireless-compatible device comprising a wireless-compatible video game console, home game console, handheld game unit, or personal computer, said first RF transceiver configured to provide a communication range of greater than 10 feet; a second RF transceiver configured and adapted to provide short-range two-way wireless communication with a second wireless-compatible device comprising at least one or more RFID-tagged items, said second RF transceiver configured to provide a wireless communication range of less than 60 cm; at least one RFID-tagged collectible gaming item comprising a physical game card, token or trinket depicting or representing a person, character or object relevant to said game; a wireless power source configured and adapted to generate an electromagnetic field to wirelessly power said at least one RFID-tagged collectible gaming item by inductive coupling when said at least one RFID-tagged collectible gaming item is within said wireless communication range of said second RF transceiver; and game software adapted to be executed by said first wireless-compatible device to conduct said game, said game software including program instructions for causing said first wireless-compatible device to;
i) conduct an interactive game in which a virtual play environment is visually and aurally represented through one or more computer animations, ii) track a game progress or performance of one or more game participants playing said interactive game, and iii) adjust a play experience for said one or more game participants based at least in part on said tracked game progress or performance. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A gaming system for amusing or entertaining one or more game participants playing a game wherein at least a portion of said game is virtually represented through one or more computer-animated visual, aural or tactile effects and wherein at least a portion of said game is physically represented through one or more wireless-compatible gaming items, said gaming system comprising:
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a portable gaming device comprising (i) a first radio frequency (RF) transceiver configured and adapted to provide medium-range two-way wireless communication with a wireless-compatible gaming platform comprising a video game console, home game console, handheld game unit, or personal computer, (ii) a second RF transceiver configured and adapted to provide short-range two-way wireless communication with one or more wireless-compatible gaming items, and (iii) a wireless power source configured and adapted to generate field energy to wirelessly power said one or more wireless-compatible gaming items by inductive coupling; one or more wireless-compatible gaming items comprising collectible physical items depicting or representing persons, characters or objects relevant to a game, each said one or more wireless-compatible gaming items comprising an associated radio frequency transponder device comprising (i) a unique identifier stored therein for electronically identifying each said one or more wireless-compatible gaming items within said game, and (ii) non-volatile programmable memory configured and adapted to store game-relevant information associated with said person, character or object, said game-relevant information comprising character attributes, characteristics, appearance or traits selected or developed by a game participant while playing said game, and wherein each said transponder device is further configured and adapted to automatically exchange one or more wireless communications with said second transceiver when said wireless-compatible gaming item is wirelessly powered by said wireless power source; and game software adapted to be executed by said wireless-compatible gaming platform to direct an interactive game, said game software including program instructions for causing said wireless-compatible gaming platform to;
i) conduct an interactive game in which a virtual play environment is visually and aurally represented through one or more computer animations, ii) track a game progress or performance of one or more game participants playing said interactive game, and iii) adjust a play experience for said one or more game participants based at least in part on said wireless communication of said stored game-relevant information. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A portable device for playing a game in which a computer-generated play environment is represented through one or more computer-animated visual, aural or tactile effects, said portable device comprising:
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a body comprising an internal cavity sized and configured to receive one or more batteries and associated circuitry; a display screen configured to display game-relevant information; a game effects generator configured to produce at least one sound, vibration or lighting effect in accordance with a game; non-volatile memory configured to store at least one unique identifier for uniquely identifying said portable device; a first radio frequency (RF) transceiver configured and adapted to provide medium-range two-way wireless communication with a first wireless-compatible device; and a second RF transceiver configured and adapted to provide short-range two-way wireless communication with a second wireless-compatible device, wherein said second wireless-compatible device comprises a radio frequency transponder device and wherein said second RF transceiver comprises a wireless reader device configured and adapted to wirelessly power and exchange one or more wireless communications with said transponder device when said portable device and said transponder device are within communication range of one another and wherein said short-range two-way communication is facilitated at least in part through inductive coupling between said second RF transceiver and said second wireless-compatible device. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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Specification