Intelligent board game system with visual marker based game object tracking and identification

• US 8,602,857 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2011
• Issued: 12/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tweedletech, LLC
• Original Assignee: Tweedletech, LLC
• Inventors: Morichau-Beauchant, Theodore, Maharbiz, Michel Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Such, Matthew W
• Assistant Examiner(s): CARPENTER, ROBERT K
• Application Number:
  US13/233,936
• Publication Number:
  US 20120049453A1
• Time in Patent Office: 817 Days
• Field of Search: 463/6, 463/9, 273/236
• US Class Current: 463/6
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/42 by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/493 Resuming a game, e.g. after pausing, malfunction or power failure
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/54 involving acoustic signals, e.g. for simulating revolutions per minute [RPM] dependent engine sounds in a driving game or reverberation against a virtual wall
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/655 by importing photos, e.g. of the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/69 by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/73 Authorising game programs or game devices, e.g. checking authenticity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/00223 shaped as a container into which playing pieces may enter
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/00258 rollable, flexible or deformable board
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/00394 with a surface relief
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/00662 with an electric sensor for playing pieces A63F2009/2444 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/00668 using hall effect
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2419 Optical
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/242 Bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2435 using a video camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2467 of a slide
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/247 audible, e.g. using a loudspeaker
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2486 the computer being an accessory to a board game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2489 by radio transmitters, e.g. using RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1093 : using visible light
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/203 : Image generating hardware
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/308 : Details of the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5553 : user representation in the game field, e.g. avatar
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 : for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00214 : Three-dimensional game boards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00643 : Electric board games; Electric features of board games electric word or number games A63F3/0421; computer chess G06F; electric raffle games A63F3/081
• 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

A board game system comprises one or more game objects, a processing device, a memory device and one or more cameras. Each of the game objects comprise a unique visual marker positioned on a top surface of the game object, wherein the unique visual marker comprises a series of concentric rings that represent data that uniquely identifies the game object. As a result, during the course of game play, the location and identification of the game objects are able to be determined by the processing device by analyzing images captured by the one or more cameras of the visual markers of the game objects on the game board. The processing device is able to compare the data of the visual markers to a table stored in the memory device that associates the data with a specific game object.

Claims

1. A game system for playing a board game, the game system comprising:

a. one or more game objects positioned on a game board, wherein each of the game objects has a unique visual marker representing data that uniquely identifies the game object;

b. a memory device for storing a table that associates the identity of the game objects with the data represented on the unique visual markers located on each game object;

c. one or more cameras that capture one or more images of the game board; and

d. a processing device that determines the location, orientation and identity of the one or more game objects on the game board by locating the visual marker of each game object within the images and determining the game object identity associated with the data on each located the visual marker using the table, wherein the processing device adjusts the game play of the board game with respect to the one or more game objects based on the orientation of the one or more game objects.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the location of the one or more game objects is determined relative to the position of one or more other game objects.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the location of the one or more game objects is determined relative to the game board.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the visual markers each comprise one or more inner rings representing the data and an outer ring that surrounds the inner rings and enables the processing device to determine the location of the one or more game objects.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the processing device locates the outer ring of each game object using a edge detection algorithm on the image of the game board followed by a circle detection algorithm.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein one of the inner rings of each visual marker indicates the angle of the visual marker relative to the camera inputting the visual marker, wherein the processing device determines the starting point of the data represented in the inner rings of the visual marker based on the angle.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the processing device determines the orientation of the game object at the determined location based on the angle.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein one or more of the game objects comprise a plurality of visual markers such that a first visual marker is able to represent the location of a first portion of one of the game objects and a second visual marker is able to represent the location of a second portion of the one of the game objects.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the game objects are selected from a group consisting of a game piece, a terrain piece and a game board.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the unique identification of the game objects provided by the data is global such that each of the game objects are able to be distinguished from all other game objects associated with the board game.

11. A method of locating and identifying game objects on a game board, the method comprising:

a. positioning one or more game objects on the game board, wherein each of the game objects has a unique visual marker representing data that uniquely identifies the game object;

b. storing the data in a table on one or more memory devices, where the table associates the identity of the game objects with the data represented on the unique visual markers located on each game object;

c. capturing one or more images of the game board with one or more cameras;

d. determining the location, orientation and identity of the one or more game objects on the game board with a processing device by locating the visual marker of each game object within the images and determining the game object identity associated with the data on each located the visual marker using the table; and

e. adjusting the game play of the board game with respect to the one or more game objects with the processing device based on the orientation of the one or more game objects.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the location of the one or more game objects is determined relative to the position of one or more other game objects.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the location of the one or more game objects is determined relative to the game board.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the visual markers each comprise one or more inner rings representing the data and an outer ring that surrounds the inner rings and enables the processing device to determine the location of the one or more game objects.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the processing device locates the outer ring of each game object using a edge detection algorithm on the images of the game board followed by a circle detection algorithm.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein one of the inner rings of each visual marker indicates the angle of the visual marker relative to the camera inputting the visual marker, wherein the processing device determines the starting point of the data represented in the inner rings of the visual marker based on the angle.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein determining the orientation of the game object at the determined location is based on the angle.

18. The method of claim 11 further comprising determining the location and identity of one or more second visual markers on one or more of the game objects, wherein the second visual markers represent the location and identity of a second portion of one of the one or more of the game objects.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the second portion is able to move with respect to the remainder of the game object such that the processing device is able to track the movement of the second portion based on the location of the second visual marker on the second portion.

20. The method of claim 11 wherein the game objects are selected from a group consisting of a game piece, a terrain piece and a game board.

21. The method of claim 11 wherein the unique identification of the game objects provided by the data is global such that each of the game objects are able to be distinguished from all other game objects associated with the board game.