Game with hand motion control

• US 9,317,110 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2007
• Issued: 04/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CFPH LLC (Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P.)
• Original Assignee: CFPH LLC (Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P.)
• Inventors: Lutnick, Howard W., Alderucci, Dean P., Gelman, Geoffrey M.
• Primary Examiner(s): D'Agostino, Paul A
• Assistant Examiner(s): GRAY, BRANDON RAMON
• Application Number:
  US11/754,944
• Publication Number:
  US 20080300055A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,248 Days
• Field of Search: 463/36, 463/37, 463/38, 463/39, 463/40, 463/42
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1093 using visible light
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/201 Playing authorisation given at platform level
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/107 Static hand or arm
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3209 Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen

Abstract

In various embodiments, the motion of a wristband is used to control games.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a band formed into a loop, the loop dimensioned and having a closure designed to allow the band to be carried on a human body, and having affixed thereto for consolidated unitary motion with a part of the human body on which the band is carried;

a power source;

a motion sensor;

an electromagnetic transmitter/receiver;

at least one of an audio speaker and/or a haptics transducer; and

a processor, the processor being programmed to;

receive signals from the motion sensor that indicate a position of the band and to encode position information and to issue signals that encode gaming commands to a gambling game for regulated gaming play for value on a gaming device over the electromagnetic transmitter/receiver to a gaming device,

drive the audio speaker and/or haptics transducer to provide information to the human, the information regarding the gambling game'"'"'s response to the commands;

receive a first electronic signal from the motion sensor;

determine a first command for the gambling game based on the first electronic signal;

transmit the first command to the electromagnetic transmitter; and

direct the electromagnetic transmitter to transmit the first command to the gaming device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the haptics transducer is operable to generate vibrations for perception by the human in response to an electrical signal from the processor.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the motion sensor is an accelerometer.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the processor is operable to:

receive from the electromagnetic receiver instructions that have been received wirelessly by the electromagnetic receiver;

receive a second electronic signal from the motion sensor;

follow the instructions in order to determine a second command for a second gambling game based on the second electronic signal;

transmit the second command to the electromagnetic transmitter; and

direct the electromagnetic transmitter to transmit the second command to the gaming device.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a switch attached to the band,

in which the switch has two stable positions, and in which the processor is operable to detect the position of the switch and to direct the electromagnetic transmitter to transmit signals only if the switch is in a first of the two stable positions.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a piezoelectric sensor attached to the band.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the gaming device is programmed to receive wireless signals from a plurality of user devices at about the same time, the wireless signals communicating data identifying potential users of respective devices and availability of the potential users to use the gaming device;

the gaming device is programmed to, based on receipt of the plurality of wireless signals, display on the gaming device a message that asks at least one of the potential users to identify himself to the gaming device, and to receive input indicating a user identity, the input resolving which of the plurality of potential users is to be connected to use the gaming device.

8. An apparatus comprising:

a gaming device having;

a display screen, a processor, a wireless receiver/transmitter; and

first and second light sources mounted to be visible in a gaming region near the gaming device, the first and second light sources configured to emit light of first and second characteristics different from each other, and being spaced far enough from each other to permit angular resolution of line of sight between them in the gaming region;

a band formed into a loop, the loop dimensioned and having a closure designed to allow the band to be carried on a human body, the band having affixed thereto for consolidated unitary motion with a part of the human body on which the band is carried;

a power source, an electromagnetic transmitter/receiver designed to communicate with the gaming device'"'"'s wireless receiver/transmitter, an optical sensor, and a processor attached to the band;

the processor being programmed to receive signals from the optical sensor and to resolve images of the two light sources into position information of the optical sensor relative to the two light sources, and to encode that position information into gaming commands and issue signals over the band'"'"'s receiver/transmitter to the gaming device.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 in which the processor is operable to:

conduct gambling games; and

alter the course of a gambling game based on wireless signals received at the wireless receiver.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein:

the gaming device is programmed to receive first and second wireless signals from first and second devices, the first and second wireless signals communicating data identifying first and second potential users and availability of the first and second potential users to use the gaming device at near the same time;

the band'"'"'s processor is programmed to display on the gaming device a message that asks at least one of the first and second potential users to identify himself to the gaming device, and to receive input indicating a user identity, the input resolving whether the identified user is the first or second potential user.

11. The apparatus of claim 8:

the band having further mounted thereon at least one of an audio speaker and/or a haptics transducer; and

the processor is further programmed;

to receive signals from the motion sensor that indicate a position of the band and to encode position information and to issue signals that encode gaming commands to a gaming device over the electromagnetic transmitter/receiver to a gaming device, and

to drive the audio speaker and/or haptics transducer to provide information regarding the gambling game'"'"'s response to the commands to the first user.

12. A method, comprising the steps of:

by a processor, receiving signals from a motion sensor of a human-mounted apparatus, the human-mounted apparatus being affixed to a human player, the human-mounted apparatus having a power source, the motion sensor, an electromagnetic receiver/transmitter, at least one of an audio speaker and/or a haptics transducer, and the processor, all conjoined for consolidated unitary motion with a part of the human body on which the apparatus is affixed;

by the processor, transforming the received motion sensor signals for transmission over the electromagnetic transmitter/receiver to a gaming device to command activity of a regulated gambling game for value, the gambling game being executed on the gaming device; and

by the processor, driving the audio speaker and/or haptics transducer to provide information regarding the gambling game'"'"'s response to the commands to the human player.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein:

a first device in the gaming system has first and second light sources mounted to be visible in a gaming region near the gaming device, the first and second light sources configured to emit light of first and second characteristics different from each other, and being spaced far enough from each other to permit angular resolution of line of sight between them in the gaming region; and

the human-mounted apparatus has an optical sensor and a processor, the processor being programmed to receive signals from the optical sensor and to resolve images of the two light sources into position information of the optical sensor relative to the two light sources, and to encode that position information into gaming commands and issue signals to the gaming device.

14. The method of claim 12, the processor being further programmed to:

receive signals from one or more optical sensors on the human-mounted apparatus, the optical sensor(s) being designed to receive light from two or more light sources configured to emit light of first and second characteristics different from each other, and being spaced far enough from each other to permit angular resolution of line of sight between them in the gaming region;

resolve the optical sensor signals into position information of the optical sensor(s) relative to the two light sources, and to encode that position information into gaming commands and issue signals over the band'"'"'s receiver/transmitter to the gaming device.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein:

the gaming device is programmed to receive wireless signals from a plurality of user devices, the wireless signals communicating data identifying potential users of respective devices and availability of the potential users to use the gaming device;

the gaming device is programmed to, based on receipt of the plurality of wireless signals, display on the gaming device a message that asks at least one of the potential users to identify himself to the gaming device, and to receive input indicating a user identity, the input resolving which of the plurality of potential users is to be connected to use the gaming device.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein:

the human-mounted apparatus further comprises one or more transducers to detect one or more of pulse, temperature, skin conductivity, skin moisture level, skin electric field, degree or muscle tension, or other biometric signal of the player;

the processor is programmed to translate a signal from the transducer(s) for control of game play.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein:

the processor is programmed to direct the electromagnetic transmitter/receiver to transmit data that identifies the player as part of a protocol to initiate a gaming session between the human-mounted apparatus and the gaming device.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein:

the processor is programmed to direct the electromagnetic transmitter/receiver to transmit data that identifies the player as part of a protocol to initiate a gaming session between the human-mounted apparatus and the gaming device.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

based on signals exchanged between the human-mounted apparatus and the gaming device, displaying a visual message asking the player of the human-mounted apparatus to confirm his/her identity, and receiving input from the player to confirm that identity.

20. A method, comprising the steps of:

by a processor, receiving signals from one or more optical sensors of an human-mounted apparatus, the human-mounted apparatus being affixed to a human player, the human-mounted apparatus having a power source, the optical sensor(s), an electromagnetic receiver/transmitter designed to communicate with a gaming device, and the processor, the optical sensor(s) receiving light from first and second light sources mounted to be visible in a gaming region near a gaming device, the first and second light sources configured to emit light of first and second characteristics different from each other, and being spaced far enough from each other to permit angular resolution of line of sight between them in the gaming region;

by the processor, transforming the received optical sensor signals to resolve position information of the optical sensor, and encoding that position information into signals for communicating over the electromagnetic transmitter/receiver to the gaming device to command gaming activity of the gaming device.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein:

the human-mounted apparatus has;

at least one of an audio speaker and/or a haptics transducer; and

a processor attached to the band, the processor being programmed;

to receive signals from the motion sensor that indicate a position of the band and to encode position information and to issue signals that encode gaming commands to a gaming device over the electromagnetic transmitter/receiver to a gaming device, and

to drive the audio speaker and/or haptics transducer to provide information regarding the gambling game'"'"'s response to the commands to the first user.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein:

the gaming device is programmed to receive wireless signals from a plurality of user devices, the wireless signals communicating data identifying potential users of respective devices and availability of the potential users to use the gaming device;

the gaming device is programmed to, based on receipt of the plurality of wireless signals, display on the gaming device a message that asks at least one of the potential users to identify himself to the gaming device, and to receive input indicating a user identity, the input resolving which of the plurality of potential users is to be connected to use the gaming device.

23. The method of claim 20, further comprising the steps of:

by the processor, receiving signals from a motion sensor of the human-mounted apparatus;

by the processor, transforming the received motion sensor signals for transmission over the electromagnetic transmitter/receiver to a gaming device to command gaming activity of the gaming device.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein:

the human-mounted apparatus has an audio speaker and/or haptics transducer, and the processor is programmed to drive the audio speaker and/or haptics transducer to provide information regarding a gambling game'"'"'s response to the commands to the human player.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein:

the human-mounted apparatus further comprises one or more transducers to detect one or more of pulse, temperature, skin conductivity, skin moisture level, skin electric field, degree or muscle tension, or other biometric signal of the player;

the processor is programmed to translate a signal from the transducer(s) for control of game play.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein:

the processor is programmed to direct the electromagnetic transmitter/receiver to transmit data that identifies the player as part of a protocol to initiate a gaming session between the human-mounted apparatus and the gaming device.

27. The method of claim 20, wherein:

the processor is programmed to direct the electromagnetic transmitter/receiver to transmit data that identifies the player as part of a protocol to initiate a gaming session between the human-mounted apparatus and the gaming device.

28. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

based on signals exchanged between the human-mounted apparatus and the gaming device, displaying a visual message asking the player of the human-mounted apparatus to confirm his/her identity, and receiving input from the player to confirm that identity.