Storage and charging device for game pieces

• US 9,919,226 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2014
• Issued: 03/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Scott, James William, Zhang, Haiyan, Villar, Nicolas, Bunting, Alexandra Keeley, Venables, Jonathan Leslie, Carter, Simon Jay
• Primary Examiner(s): GALKA, LAWRENCE STEFAN
• Application Number:
  US14/509,862
• Publication Number:
  US 20160101364A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,259 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/21 characterised by their sensors, purposes or types
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/214 for locating contacts on a surface, e.g. floor mats or touch pads
• 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 13/31 Communication aspects specific to video games, e.g. between several handheld game devices at close range
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/323 between game devices with different hardware characteristics, e.g. hand-held game devices connectable to game consoles or arcade machines
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• 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 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/98 Accessories, i.e. detachable arrangements optional for the use of the video game device, e.g. grip supports of game controllers
• 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

Abstract

A storage and charging device for game pieces is described which is associated with an interactive software experience, such that the storage and charging device corresponds to a virtual entity within the interactive software experience. The storage and charging device comprises a charging mechanism and a communication mechanism. The charging mechanism is arranged to charge at least one of the game pieces and the communication mechanism is arranged to communicate with the interactive software experience.

Claims

1. A storage device for a plurality of game pieces associated with an interactive software experience, the storage device comprising:

a charging mechanism arranged to charge at least one of the game pieces; and

a communication mechanism arranged to communicate with the interactive software experience, wherein the storage device corresponds to a virtual entity within the interactive software experience,

an ID collection module arranged to collect IDs of one or more game pieces which are in or on the storage device, and wherein the communication module is arranged to transmit the IDs to the interactive software experience,

wherein the communication mechanism is arranged to transmit the IDs to the interactive software experience via an intermediary device, and

wherein the intermediary device is a game piece in the storage device.

2. The storage device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a locating mechanism arranged to predefine a plurality of positions within, on or against the storage device for placement of game pieces by a user.

3. The storage device according to claim 2, wherein the locating mechanism comprises a plurality of recesses for receiving game pieces or a plurality of protrusions for receiving game pieces.

4. The storage device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of game pieces are parts of one or more wearable devices.

5. The storage device according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of game pieces comprise one or more smart beads and one or more connecting elements.

6. The storage device according to claim 5, wherein the charging mechanism is arranged to charge only a connecting element, or is arranged to charge a connecting element and any smart beads attached to the connecting element.

7. The storage device according to claim 1, further comprising one or more sensors arranged to detect an orientation of one or more of the plurality of game pieces in the storage device.

8. The storage device according to claim 1, further comprising one or more sensors arranged to detect whether the storage device is open or closed and wherein the communication element is arranged to communicate data identifying if the storage device is open or closed to the interactive software experience.

9. The storage device according to claim 1, further comprising a module for detecting an identity of a removable insert when placed inside the storage device and wherein the communication element is arranged, in response to detecting a removable insert, to communicate the identity of the removable insert to the interactive software experience to trigger a change in the virtual entity to which the storage device corresponds.

10. The storage device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of game pieces are associated with a first interactive software experience when outside of the storage device and a second interactive software experience when in the storage device and wherein the communication mechanism is arranged to communicate with the second interactive software experience and the storage device corresponds to a virtual entity within the second interactive software experience.

11. A storage device for a plurality of game pieces associated with an interactive software experience, the storage device comprising:

a charging mechanism arranged to charge at least one of the game pieces;

a communication mechanism arranged to communicate with the interactive software experience, wherein the storage device corresponds to a virtual entity within the interactive software experience; and

one or more sensors arranged to detect whether the storage device is open or closed and wherein the communication mechanism is arranged to communicate data identifying if the storage device is open or closed to the interactive software experience.

12. The storage device according to claim 11, further comprising:

a locating mechanism arranged to predefine a plurality of positions within, on or against the storage device for placement of game pieces by a user.

13. The storage device according to claim 12, wherein the locating mechanism comprises a plurality of recesses for receiving game pieces, or a plurality of protrusions for receiving game pieces.

14. The storage device according to claim 11, further comprising an ID collection module arranged to collect IDs of one or more game pieces which are in or on the storage device, and wherein the communication mechanism is arranged to transmit the IDs to the interactive software experience.

15. The storage device according to claim 14, wherein the communication mechanism is arranged to transmit the IDs to the interactive software experience via an intermediary device.

16. The storage device according to claim 15, wherein the intermediary device is a game piece in the storage device.

17. The storage device according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of game pieces are parts of one or more wearable devices.

18. The storage device according to claim 17, wherein the plurality of game pieces comprise one or more smart beads and one or more connecting elements.

19. The storage device according to claim 18, wherein the charging mechanism is arranged to charge only a connecting element, or wherein the charging mechanism is arranged to charge a connecting element and any smart beads attached to the connecting element.

20. The storage device according to claim 11, further comprising one or more sensors arranged to detect an orientation of one or more of the plurality of game pieces in the storage device.

21. The storage device according to claim 11, further comprising a module for detecting an identity of a removable insert when placed inside the storage device and wherein the communication mechanism is arranged, in response to detecting a removable insert, to communicate the identity of the removable insert to the interactive software experience to trigger a change in the virtual entity to which the storage device corresponds.

22. The storage device according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of game pieces are associated with a first interactive software experience when outside of the storage device and a second interactive software experience when in the storage device and wherein the communication mechanism is arranged to communicate with the second interactive software experience and the storage device corresponds to a virtual entity within the second interactive software experience.

23. A storage device for a plurality of game pieces associated with an interactive software experience, the storage device comprising:

a charging mechanism arranged to charge at least one of the game pieces; and

a communication mechanism arranged to communicate with the interactive software experience, wherein the storage device corresponds to a virtual entity within the interactive software experience,

wherein the plurality of game pieces are associated with a first interactive software experience when outside of the storage device and a second interactive software experience when in the storage device and wherein the communication mechanism is arranged to communicate with the second interactive software experience and the storage device corresponds to a virtual entity within the second interactive software experience.

24. The storage device according to claim 23, further comprising:

a locating mechanism arranged to predefine a plurality of positions within, on or against the storage device for placement of game pieces by a user.

25. The storage device according to claim 24, wherein the locating mechanism comprises a plurality of recesses for receiving game pieces, or a plurality of protrusions for receiving game pieces.

26. The storage device according to claim 23, further comprising an ID collection module arranged to collect IDs of one or more game pieces which are in or on the storage device, and wherein the communication module is arranged to transmit the IDs to the interactive software experience.

27. The storage device according to claim 26, wherein the communication module is arranged to transmit the IDs to the interactive software experience via an intermediary device.

28. The storage device according to claim 27, wherein the intermediary device is a game piece in the storage device.

29. The storage device according to claim 23, wherein the plurality of game pieces are parts of one or more wearable devices.

30. The storage device according to claim 29, wherein the plurality of game pieces comprise one or more smart beads and one or more connecting elements.

31. The storage device according to claim 30, wherein the charging mechanism is arranged to charge only a connecting element, or is arranged to charge a connecting element and any smart beads attached to the connecting element.

32. The storage device according to claim 23, further comprising one or more sensors arranged to detect an orientation of one or more of the plurality of game pieces in the storage device.

33. The storage device according to claim 23, further comprising one or more sensors arranged to detect whether the storage device is open or closed and wherein the communication mechanism is arranged to communicate data identifying if the storage device is open or closed to the interactive software experience.

34. The storage device according to claim 23, further comprising a module for detecting an identity of a removable insert when placed inside the storage device and wherein the communication mechanism is arranged, in response to detecting a removable insert, to communicate the identity of the removable insert to the interactive software experience to trigger a change in the virtual entity to which the storage device corresponds.