Wireless entertainment device, system, and method
First Claim
1. A portable wireless gaming device for wirelessly actuating one or more interactive effects as part of an interactive entertainment experience, said portable wireless gaming device comprising:
- a portable body configured to be held and operated by a user, said portable body comprising one or more batteries and associated electronic circuitry configured to power and operate said portable wireless gaming device;
non-volatile memory having stored therein at least one identifier uniquely identifying said portable wireless gaming device;
an antenna configured to generate power by inductive coupling with an externally-generated electromagnetic field when a user selectively places said antenna in said electromagnetic field;
a first radio frequency (RF) transmitter powered by said antenna and configured to transmit a first wireless signal to a first wireless-compatible receiver over a limited wireless communication range of less than 60 cm; and
a second RF transmitter powered by said one or more batteries and configured to transmit a second wireless signal to a second wireless-compatible receiver over a limited wireless communication range of greater than 10 feet and less than 100 feet;
said first and second wireless signals comprising a selection of information relevant to said interactive entertainment experience and configured to cause or enable actuation of at least one of said one or more interactive effects.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention provide a unique play experience carried out utilizing an interactive “wand” and/or other seemingly magical actuation/tracking device. The wand or other actuation device allows play participants to electronically and “magically” interact with their surrounding play environment(s), thereby giving play participants the realistic illusion of practicing, performing and mastering “real” magic. Optionally, multiple play participants, each provided with a suitable “wand” and/or other actuation/tracking device, may play and interact together, either within or outside one or more compatible play environments, to achieve desired goals, master certain magical spells and/or produce desired seemingly magical effects within the play environment.
1383 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A portable wireless gaming device for wirelessly actuating one or more interactive effects as part of an interactive entertainment experience, said portable wireless gaming device comprising:
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a portable body configured to be held and operated by a user, said portable body comprising one or more batteries and associated electronic circuitry configured to power and operate said portable wireless gaming device; non-volatile memory having stored therein at least one identifier uniquely identifying said portable wireless gaming device; an antenna configured to generate power by inductive coupling with an externally-generated electromagnetic field when a user selectively places said antenna in said electromagnetic field; a first radio frequency (RF) transmitter powered by said antenna and configured to transmit a first wireless signal to a first wireless-compatible receiver over a limited wireless communication range of less than 60 cm; and a second RF transmitter powered by said one or more batteries and configured to transmit a second wireless signal to a second wireless-compatible receiver over a limited wireless communication range of greater than 10 feet and less than 100 feet; said first and second wireless signals comprising a selection of information relevant to said interactive entertainment experience and configured to cause or enable actuation of at least one of said one or more interactive effects. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A wireless interactive entertainment system for entertaining one or more participants as part of an interactive entertainment experience, said wireless interactive entertainment system comprising:
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a portable wireless gaming device configured to be carried or worn by each said one or more participants, said portable wireless gaming device comprising first and second radio frequency (RF) transmitters configured to transmit first and second wireless signals, respectively, each comprising an identifier configured to uniquely identify said portable wireless gaming device; a plurality of interactive entertainment effects configured to be wirelessly actuated by said portable wireless gaming device in accordance with a game or competition carried out by said one or more participants; a first RF receiver configured to receive said first wireless signal from said first RF transmitter and to thereby cause a first associated control module to actuate a first one of said interactive entertainment effects, said first RF receiver and said first RF transmitter having a limited wireless communication range of between 1 cm and 60 cm; a second RF receiver configured to receive said second wireless signal from said second RF transmitter and to thereby cause a second associated control module to actuate a second one of said interactive entertainment effects, said second RF receiver and said second RF transmitter having a limited wireless communication range of between 10 feet and 100 feet; and a master control system configured to;
i) communicate with each said first and second RF receivers, ii) track the progress or performance of said one or more participants in said game or competition, and iii) adjust the entertainment experience for each said one or more participants based at least in part on said tracked progress or performance. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A wireless gaming device for playing a computer-animated game comprising one or more upgradable game characters, said wireless gaming device comprising:
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a portable handheld body comprising an internal cavity configured to hold one or more batteries and associated electronics for powering and operating said wireless gaming device; non-volatile memory storing a unique identifier configured to uniquely identify said wireless gaming device; a first radio frequency (RF) transceiver configured to provide first two-way wireless communications with a first wireless-compatible device over a limited communication range of greater than 1 cm and less than 60 cm and wherein said first two-way wireless communications communicate a first selection of game-relevant information comprising one or more character attributes associated with said one or more upgradeable game characters; a second RF transceiver configured to provide second two-way wireless communications with a second wireless-compatible device over a limited communication range of between 10 and 100 feet and wherein said second two-way wireless communications communicate a second selection of game-relevant information; and a display screen configured to display at least said second selection of game-relevant information. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification