System and method for using interconnecting blocks as input and output for electronic devices

• US 9,333,427 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2014
• Issued: 05/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digital Dream Labs, LLC
• Original Assignee: Digital Dream Labs, LLC
• Inventors: Sabo, Justin, Stewart, Matthew, Kinney, Peter Borman
• Primary Examiner(s): Yen, Jason
• Application Number:
  US14/215,840
• Publication Number:
  US 20140274412A1
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/23 for interfacing with the game device, e.g. specific interfaces between game controller and console
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/65 automatically by game devices or servers from real world data, e.g. measurement in live racing competition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/00583 with pin and hole
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/00725 Peg and socket connection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/1061 with electric features, e.g. light, wires
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2444 Light detector
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2489 by radio transmitters, e.g. using RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2250/1026 for temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/0073 Games for obtaining a particular arrangement of playing pieces in a plane or space A63F9/08 takes precedence; ticktacktoe A63F3/00094; three-dimensional chess-like games A63F3/00214
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2200/00 Computerized interactive toys, e.g. dolls

Abstract

A minimum of one Master Block and one or more Activity Blocks connected (via “wireless or wired transmission”) to a System (the “electronic device”) for a digital and non-digital game, experience, or other engaging activity. Master Blocks can communicate with a System, and can connect to many Activity Blocks. Activity Blocks can communicate with Master Blocks. Furthermore, when multiple Activity Blocks are connected to a single Master Block, they create physical relationships between each other that the Master Block can detect and process and/or relay to the System as a form of input for whatever process the System is running. A user can interact with the System by manipulating the relationships between Activity Blocks and the Master Block.

Claims

1. A method of providing data to a software application comprising the steps of:

a. providing a plurality of first devices, a second device in communication with each first device of the plurality of first devices, and a processor in communication with the second device and an output device, wherein the processor executes the software application with data provided by the each first device of the plurality of first devices and the second device;

b. reading instructions contained on the each first device of the plurality of first devices placed in pockets of the second device to form a grid;

c. creating a data packet including the instructions of the each first device of the plurality of devices and a location of the each first device of the plurality of first devices relative to the second device, and further comprising;

a row number and a column number associated with a two-dimensional grid of the second device; and

sequentially arranging the instructions of the each first device of the plurality of devices within the data packet in the order of placement of the each first device of the plurality of first devices in pockets of the second device; and

d. executing the software application with the data packet for output to the output device.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of creating the data packet further comprises a first device stacked level number associated with a three-dimensional grid of the second device.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of rewriting the instructions of the each first device of the plurality of first devices.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the step of rewriting the instructions of the each first device of the plurality of first devices further comprises creating a new instruction data packet containing the new instructions and the location of the each first device of the plurality of first devices in pockets of the second device.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein steps b-d are repeated upon the addition to or removal from the grid of one or more first devices.

6. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of determining the first device stacked level number based on relative signal strengths of adjacent first devices of the plurality of first devices.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the step of determining the first device stacked level number further comprising the steps of:

measuring signal strength emitted from the each first device of the plurality of first devices;

comparing signal strengths of adjacent first devices of the plurality of devices; and

assigning increasing level numbers as signal strengths decrease.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

relaying request for information to the each first device of the plurality of first devices; and

replying to the request with a position value of the each first device of the plurality of first devices associated with a level of a first device stacked arrangement.

9. A data system to interface with a software application, the data system comprising:

a plurality of first devices, wherein each first device contains instructions;

a second device in communication with each first device of the plurality of first devices in pockets of the second device, wherein the second device comprises a plurality of first device readable cells arranged in rows and columns to form a grid;

a data packet including the instructions of the each first device of the plurality of devices and a location of the each first device of the plurality of first devices relative to the second device, and further comprising;

a row number and a column number associated with a two-dimensional grid of the second device; and

sequential arrangement of the instructions of the each first device of the plurality of devices within the data packet in the order of placement of the each first device of the plurality of first devices in pockets of the second device; and

a processor in communication with the second device and an output device, wherein the processor executes the software application with data packet information provided by the each first device of the plurality of first devices and the second device.

10. The data system according to claim 9, wherein the instructions of the each first device of the plurality of first devices are rewriteable.

11. The data system according to claim 9, wherein the second device further comprises sensors to detect placement of the each first device of the plurality of first devices in pockets of the plurality of first device readable cells.

12. The data system according to claim 9, wherein the each first device of the plurality of first devices comprises a bottom surface and a top surface, wherein the bottom surface and the top surface are configured such that the bottom surface of a first device mates with the top surface of a second first device to form a stacked configuration of a three-dimensional grid, and the date packet further comprises a first device stacked level number associated with the three-dimensional grid of the second device.

13. The data system according to claim 12, wherein the stacked first devices communicate with adjacent first devices of the stacked first devices.

14. The data system according to claim 9, wherein the data includes status of one or more first devices of the plurality of first devices in pockets of the plurality of first device readable cells.

15. The data system according to claim 14, wherein the data is updated when one or more first devices of the plurality of first devices are added or removed from the grid.

16. The data system according to claim 13, wherein data of each stacked first device of the stacked first devices includes a position value for the determination stack level of the three-dimensional grid.

17. The data system according to claim 12, wherein the each first device further comprising a signal emitter, and the second device further comprising a signal receiver and a relative signal strength comparator for the determination stack level of the three-dimensional grid.

18. The data system according to claim 9, wherein the second device, the processor, and the output device are housed in a single structure.