Interactive game systems and methods including a transceiver and transponder receptor

• US 8,550,916 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2010
• Issued: 10/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ubisoft Entertainment S.A.
• Original Assignee: Ubisoft Entertainment S.A.
• Inventors: Raynal, Frederick
• Primary Examiner(s): Brewster, William M.
• Application Number:
  US12/796,532
• Publication Number:
  US 20110300944A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,218 Days
• Field of Search: 463/39, 463/42
• US Class Current: 463/39
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/403 Connection between platform and handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5533 using program state or machine event data, e.g. server keeps track of the state of multiple players on in a multiple player game
• 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 2300/8023 the game being played by multiple players at a common site, e.g. in an arena, theatre, shopping mall using a large public display
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8076 Shooting

Abstract

A game system comprises a computer manager system adapted to manage gaming activity of one or more players, a transceiver in operative communication with the computer manager system and one or more transponders or transponder/receptor units in operative communication with the transceiver. Each transponder/receptor unit includes a transponder and a receptor. The transceiver is adapted to enable wireless communication between each transponder or transponder/receptor unit and the computer manager system within a distance that is within a range detectable by said transponder/receptor units and the computer manager system.

Claims

1. A game system comprising:

a computer manager system adapted to manage gaming activities of one or more players;

a transceiver in operative communication with the computer manager system; and

one or more transponder/receptor units in operative communication with the transceiver, each transponder/receptor unit including a transponder and a receptor, each transponder/receptor unit including a display light indicating when a first player has been hit by second player firing a transponder/receiver unit, wherein a first transponder can communicate with a second transponder at a distance of at least about 80 meters without using the transceiver;

wherein the transceiver is adapted to enable wireless communication between a transponder/receptor unit and the computer manager system over distances of at least about 250 meters in an indoor environment and at least about 750 meters in an outdoor environment.

2. The game system of claim 1 wherein the computer manager system manages the gaming activities of the one or more players in real time.

3. The game system of claim 2 wherein the computer manager system acts as one or more of:

a master of the game and a referee of the game.

4. The game system of claim 1 further comprising one or more goal-oriented objects, each goal-oriented object including a unique identifier and adapted for wireless communication with the one or more transponders.

5. A method of playing a game for one or more players, said method comprising the steps of:

sending a signal from a transceiver to a computer manager system coupled to said transceiver;

receiving signals in a separate transponder/receptor unit used by each player;

providing a visible indication when a first player has been hit by second player firing a transponder/receptor unit, wherein a first transponder/receptor unit can communicate with a second transponder/receptor unit at a distance of at least about 80 meters without using the transceiver;

controlling the activity of said one or more players through the computer manager system by controlling the activity of each of said one or more players'"'"' transponder/receptor units during the game play, thereby serving as one of a master of the game and as a referee of the game; and

wherein the computer manager system provides communication over distances of at least about 250 meters in an indoor environment and at least about 750 meters in an outdoor environment.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said transceiver is coupled to the computer manager system via a USB link.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the computer manager system is one of:

a personal computer, a computer gaming platform, home game console, arcade game console, hand-held game device, internet gaming device, a cell phone, a television set, and a set top box.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein the transceiver comprises one or more of:

an LED infrared receptor, a Radio Frequency emitter consisting of a PCB antenna, a PCB with a control circuit and a USB wire.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein each transponder/receptor unit comprises:

a transponder including an RF emitter, an infrared emitter and an RFID reader; and

a receptor unit having one or more infrared receptor centers including one or more lights.

10. The method of claim 5, further comprising one or more goal-oriented objects adapted for wireless communication with the one or more transponders.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the one or more goal-oriented objects comprises a unique identifier.