Portable gaming device and gaming system combining both physical and virtual play elements

• US 8,711,094 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2013
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: MQ Gaming LLC
• Original Assignee: Creative Kingdoms LLC (Great Wolf Resorts Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Barney, Jonathan A., Weston, Denise Chapman
• Primary Examiner(s): ABDULSELAM, ABBAS I
• Application Number:
  US13/776,426
• Publication Number:
  US 20130165228A1
• Time in Patent Office: 428 Days
• Field of Search: 345/158, 345/162, 345/179, 463/30, 463 36- 39, 715701-702
• US Class Current: 345/158
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/00 Card games aspects of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions showing representations related to the game A63F13/00; card games played on a gaming machine G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• 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 13/219 for aiming at specific areas on the display, e.g. light-guns
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/25 Output arrangements for video game devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/31 Communication aspects specific to video games, e.g. between several handheld game devices at close range
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/428 involving motion or position input signals, e.g. signals representing the rotation of an input controller or a player's arm motions sensed by accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/497 Partially or entirely replaying previous game actions
• 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 13/822 Strategy games; Role-playing games A63F13/825, A63F13/828 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/825 Fostering virtual characters
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2402 Input by manual operation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2429 IC card, chip card, smart card
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2433 Voice-actuated
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2452 : as a signal
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/248 : Magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2489 : by radio transmitters, e.g. using RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2250/485 : using a handle
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 : using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 : using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1056 : involving pressure sensitive buttons
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 : being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1087 : comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 : the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/402 : Communication between platforms, i.e. physical link to protocol
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/403 : Connection between platform and handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/406 : Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/807 : Role playing or strategy games
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/36 : Details; Accessories
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 : using wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A63J 21/00 : Conjuring appliances; Auxiliary apparatus for conjurers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0487 : using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2354/00 : Aspects of interface with display user
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/16 : Use of wireless transmission of display information
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/18 : Use of optical transmission of display information
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/06 : Remotely controlled electronic signs other than labels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/001 : using specific devices not provided for in groups G09G3/02 - G09G3/36, e.g. using an intermediate record carrier such as a film slide; Projection systems; Display of non-alphanumerical information, solely or in combination with alphanumerical information, e.g. digital display on projected diapositive as background slide projectors per se G03B23/00 = 42 HP

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.

Claims

1. A portable handheld device for gaming or entertainment comprising dual transceivers for providing both short- and medium-range wireless communications with one or more wireless-compatible devices, said portable handheld device comprising:

a body comprising an internal cavity configured to hold one or more internal power sources and associated circuitry configured to power and operate said portable handheld device;

an input interface configured to receive one or more user inputs;

a display screen configured to display information;

non-volatile memory configured to store at least one unique identifier uniquely identifying said portable handheld device;

a first radio frequency (RF) transceiver configured to provide medium-range two-way wireless communication with a medium-range wireless-compatible device over a first wireless communication range of at least 10 feet; and

a second RF transceiver configured to provide short-range two-way wireless communication with a short-range wireless-compatible device over a second wireless communication range of less than 25 cm and wherein said short-range communication is facilitated at least in part through inductive coupling;

wherein said second RF transceiver is further configured such that when a user selectively causes said second RF transceiver to come within a wireless communication range of a short-range wireless-compatible gaming or entertainment device, said second RF transceiver wirelessly transmits selected information to said short-range wireless-compatible gaming or entertainment device, including at least said at least one unique identifier.

2. The portable handheld device of claim 1, wherein said medium-range wireless-compatible device comprises a wireless-compatible gaming platform configured to produce a computer-generated play environment on an associated display device and wherein said portable handheld device is configured to operate with said wireless-compatible gaming platform as a wireless input controller for enabling a game participant to selectively activate or control one or more visual, aural or tactile effects in accordance with a game.

3. The portable handheld device of claim 2, further comprising a game effects generator configured to produce at least one game-relevant sound, vibration or lighting effect based on information wirelessly communicated to said portable handheld device by said wireless-compatible gaming platform.

4. The portable handheld device of claim 2, in combination with a wireless-compatible gaming platform comprising one or more of:

a video game console, a home game console, a portable game unit, a personal computer, or a live-action play facility.

5. The combination of claim 4, in further combination with an image capture system configured to capture one or more digital images of the game participant playing the game using said portable handheld device.

6. The portable handheld device of claim 1 in combination with a short-range wireless-compatible gaming or entertainment device.

7. The combination of claim 6, wherein said short-range wireless-compatible gaming or entertainment device comprises one or more of:

a television, a radio, a video recorder, or a DVD player.

8. The combination of claim 6, wherein said short-range wireless-compatible gaming or entertainment device comprises a second portable handheld device configured in accordance with claim 1.

9. The combination of claim 6, wherein said short-range wireless-compatible gaming or entertainment device comprises an RFID-tagged physical game card, token or trinket depicting or representing a person, character or object relevant to a game.

10. The portable handheld device of claim 1, wherein said body is further configured to be held freely in the air and operated at least in part by moving the entire said body in one or more motions, and wherein said input interface comprises one or more sensors configured to sense said one or more motions.

11. The portable handheld device of claim 1, wherein said input interface comprises a button or switch selectively operable by a user.

12. The portable handheld device of claim 1, further comprising at least one antenna configured to be energized through inductive coupling with an external electromagnetic field to thereby wirelessly power at least said second RF transceiver.

13. The portable handheld device of claim 1, further comprising at least one antenna configured to generate an external electromagnetic field to wirelessly power said short-range wireless-compatible device through inductive coupling.

14. The portable handheld device of claim 1, wherein said second RF transceiver comprises a reader device configured to wirelessly power and exchange one or more wireless communications with said short-range wireless-compatible device.

15. The portable handheld device of claim 1, further comprising a global positioning system (GPS) device configured to determine a location of said portable handheld device.

16. An interactive entertainment system for entertaining one or more game participants playing a computer-animated game displayed on an associated display device, said interactive entertainment system comprising:

at least one game console comprising;

a computing device configured to produce one or more computer-animated effects in accordance with a game; and

a first wireless transceiver configured to provide two-way wireless communications with one or more wireless-compatible devices over a wireless communication range of at least 10 feet;

at least one wireless-compatible device comprising a portable wireless controller configured to control or direct said game, said wireless controller comprising;

a body comprising an internal cavity configured to hold one or more internal power sources and associated circuitry configured to power and operate said wireless controller, said body configured to be held and moved freely in the air and to be operated by a game participant at least in part by moving the entire said body of said wireless controller;

at least one sensor arranged within said body so as to sense motions of said body in free space;

non-volatile memory configured to store at least one unique identifier uniquely identifying said wireless controller;

a second wireless transceiver configured to provide two-way wireless communications with at least said first wireless transceiver over said wireless communication range of at least 10 feet; and

at least one lighting effect configured to illuminate based on one or more wireless communications communicated from said first wireless transceiver to said second wireless transceiver; and

an image capture system configured to automatically capture one or more digital images of said game participant playing said game.

17. The interactive entertainment system of claim 16, wherein said at least one game console is configured to connect to a network of other game consoles and to receive through said network selected game-relevant information comprising game progress or performance of other game participants playing said game on said other game consoles.

18. The interactive entertainment system of claim 16, wherein said first and second wireless transceivers comprise radio frequency (RF) transceivers.

19. The interactive entertainment system of claim 16, wherein said wireless controller further comprises a display screen configured to display selected messages or other game-relevant information based on one or more wireless communications received by said second wireless transceiver.

20. The interactive entertainment system of claim 16, wherein said wireless controller further comprises a sound- or vibration-effects generator configured to produce one or more vibration or sound effects based on one or more wireless communications received by said second wireless transceiver.

21. The interactive entertainment system of claim 16, wherein said wireless controller further comprises a global positioning system (GPS) device configured to determine a location of said wireless controller.

22. The interactive entertainment system of claim 16, wherein said wireless controller further comprises at least one function button configured to be selectively actuated by the game participant to activate or enable one or more desired functions.

23. The interactive entertainment system of claim 16, wherein said wireless controller further comprises a third wireless transceiver configured to provide two-way wireless communication with a wireless-compatible device over a limited wireless communication range of less than 25 cm, and wherein said limited-range communication is facilitated at least in part through inductive coupling.

24. The interactive entertainment system of claim 23, wherein said wireless controller and said third wireless transceiver are further configured such that when a game participant selectively moves said body of said wireless controller and thereby causes said third wireless transceiver to come within said limited wireless communication range of a limited-range wireless-compatible device, said third wireless transceiver wirelessly transmits selected information to said limited-range wireless-compatible device, including said at least one unique identifier.

25. The interactive entertainment system of claim 24, wherein said wireless controller further comprises at least one antenna configured to be energized through inductive coupling with an external electromagnetic field to thereby wirelessly power at least said third wireless transceiver.

26. The interactive entertainment system of claim 24, wherein said wireless controller further comprises at least one antenna configured to generate an external electromagnetic field to wirelessly power said limited-range wireless-compatible device through inductive coupling.

27. The interactive entertainment system of claim 16, further comprising game software configured to be executed by said at least one game console to carry out said game, said game software comprising program instructions for instructing said game console to:

i) conduct an interactive game in which a virtual play environment is represented through one or more computer animations, ii) track the game progress or performance of one or more game participants playing said game, and iii) adjust a play experience for each game participant based at least in part on said tracked game progress or performance.

28. A portable wireless game controller for controlling or directing a computer-animated game displayed on an associated display device, said portable wireless game controller comprising:

a body comprising an internal cavity configured to hold one or more internal power sources and associated circuitry configured to power and operate said portable wireless game controller, said body configured to be held and moved freely in the air and to be operated by a game participant at least in part by moving the entire said body of said portable wireless game controller;

at least one sensor arranged within said body so as to sense one or more motions or positions of said body in free space;

non-volatile memory configured to store at least one unique identifier uniquely identifying said portable wireless game controller;

a first radio frequency (RF) transceiver configured to provide two-way wireless communications with a wireless-compatible gaming platform over a wireless communication range of at least 10 feet; and

an effects controller configured to produce at least one lighting effect, at least one sound effect, and at least one vibration effect in accordance with said game and based at least in part on one or more wireless communications received by said first RF transceiver.

29. The portable wireless game controller of claim 28, wherein said body comprises an elongated body extending along an axis of elongation from a first end configured to be held or gripped by a single hand of said game participant to a second end extending coaxially from said first end.

30. The portable wireless game controller of claim 28, wherein said at least one sensor is arranged relative to said body so as to sense one or more waving, twisting or shaking motions of said body.

31. The portable wireless game controller of claim 30, wherein said at least one sensor is configured to sense and distinguish said one or more waving, twisting or shaking motions.

32. The portable wireless game controller of claim 28, further comprising a display screen configured to display selected messages or other game-relevant information based on one or more wireless communications received by said first RF transceiver.

33. The portable wireless game controller of claim 28, further comprising at least one function button configured to be selectively actuated by said game participant to selectively activate one or more associated functions.

34. The portable wireless game controller of claim 28, further comprising a second RF transceiver configured to provide short-range two-way wireless communication with a short-range wireless-compatible device over a limited wireless communication range of less than 25 cm, and wherein said short-range communication is facilitated at least in part through inductive coupling.

35. The portable wireless game controller of claim 34, wherein said second RF transceiver is configured such that when said game participant selectively causes said portable wireless game controller to come within said limited wireless communication range of said short-range wireless-compatible device, said second RF transceiver wirelessly transmits selected information to said short-range wireless-compatible device, including at least said at least one unique identifier.

36. The portable wireless game controller of claim 35, further comprising at least one antenna configured to be energized through inductive coupling with an external electromagnetic field to thereby wirelessly power said second wireless transceiver when said portable wireless game controller touches or comes within the limited wireless communication range of the short-range wireless-compatible device.

37. The portable wireless game controller of claim 35, further comprising at least one antenna configured to generate an external electromagnetic field to wirelessly power said short-range wireless-compatible device through inductive coupling when said portable wireless game controller touches or comes within the limited wireless communication range of the short-range wireless-compatible device.

38. The portable wireless game controller of claim 37, in combination with a short-range wireless-compatible device comprising one or more RFID-tagged gaming items depicting or representing one or more of persons, characters or objects relevant to said game.

39. The portable wireless game controller of claim 28, in combination with a wireless-compatible gaming platform comprising one or more of:

a video game console, a home game console, a portable game unit, a personal computer, or a live-action play facility.

40. The combination of claim 39, in further combination with an image capture system configured to capture one or more digital images of said game participant playing said game while using said portable wireless game controller.

41. A method for entertaining one or more game participants playing an interactive game, said method comprising:

producing, via at least one wireless-compatible gaming platform, one or more computer-animated, effects in accordance with an interactive game, said at least one wireless-compatible gaming platform comprising a first wireless transceiver configured to provide two-way wireless communications with one or more wireless-compatible devices;

wirelessly communicating, via at least one portable wireless gaming device, selected game-relevant information configured to enable a game participant to wirelessly interact with said interactive game, said portable wireless gaming device comprising;

a body configured to be held and moved freely in the air;

at least one sensor configured to sense motions of said body in free space and to generate sensor state data based thereon;

non-volatile memory configured to store at least one unique identifier uniquely identifying said portable wireless gaming device; and

a second wireless transceiver configured to provide two-way wireless communications with at least said first wireless transceiver;

causing said first and second wireless transceivers to exchange one or more wireless communications and wherein said one or more wireless communications include communication of said at least one unique identifier and said sensor state data; and

automatically capturing one or more digital images of said game participant while said game participant is playing said interactive game.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein said at least one wireless-compatible gaming platform comprises one or more of:

a video game console, a home game console, a portable game unit, a personal computer, or a live-action play facility.

43. The method of claim 42, further comprising configuring said at least one wireless-compatible gaming platform to:

i) connect to a network of other wireless-compatible gaming platforms, and ii) receive through said network selected game-relevant information pertaining to other game participants playing said game using said other wireless-compatible gaming platforms.

44. The method of claim 41, further comprising wirelessly powering said second wireless transceiver through inductive coupling when said portable wireless gaming device is placed in an external electromagnetic field.

45. The method of claim 41, further comprising causing said portable wireless gaming device to generate an external electromagnetic field having sufficient energy to wirelessly power one or more wireless-compatible devices through inductive coupling.

46. The method of claim 41, wherein said first and second wireless transceivers comprise radio frequency (RF) transceivers configured to provide medium-range two-way wireless communications over a wireless communication range of at least 10 feet.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein said at least one gaming platform or said at least one portable wireless gaming device further comprises a third wireless transceiver configured to provide short-range two-way wireless communications with a short-range wireless-compatible device over a limited wireless communication range of less than 25 cm, and wherein said short-range communication is facilitated at least in part through inductive coupling, and further comprising causing said third wireless transceiver to transmit selected information by selectively placing said short-range wireless-compatible device within said limited wireless communication range of said third wireless transceiver.

48. The method of claim 41, further comprising causing game-relevant information to be displayed on a display screen operatively associated with said portable wireless gaming device based on one or more wireless communications received by said second wireless transceiver.

49. The method of claim 41, further comprising causing said portable wireless gaming device to illuminate based on one or more wireless communications received by said second wireless transceiver.

50. The method of claim 41, further comprising causing said portable wireless gaming device to vibrate or emit sound based on one or more wireless communications received by said second wireless transceiver.

51. The method of claim 41, further comprising automatically storing said one or more captured digital images in association with one or more image identifiers or timestamp information.

52. The method of claim 41, further comprising automatically capturing one or more video images of said game participant while said game participant is playing said interactive game.