MOOVDISK

• US 20090221371A1
• Filed: 03/02/2009
• Published: 09/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HopeLab Foundation, Inc.
• Original Assignee: HopeLab Foundation, Inc.
• Inventors: Hart, Jeffrey, Mudalige, Lahiru, Warshauer, Matthew, Bakshi, Anthony, Chatterjee, Moyukh, Christen, Patricia L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,196,930 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/36
• 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

Abstract

Described herein is a game system that includes a game control unit that communicates with a plurality of play units. Each play unit typically has a user input functionality (e.g., a button) and a visual indicator (e.g., lights). The play units can communicate and receive instructions from the game control unit. The game control unit may also include a user input, and can track play and upload results (e.g., scores) into a central data repository. Players may wear identification tags that can also provide identifying information for tracking or monitoring by the game control unit. Also described herein are methods of playing games using the system, and social networking website for players.

Claims

1. A game system comprising:

a plurality of play units, wherein each play unit includes a user input functionality configured to toggle the play unit between a first state and a second state and a visual output configured to indicate the state of the game unit;

a mobile game control unit configured to store and release the play units onto a playing field, wherein the mobile unit is configured to wirelessly receive status information from each of the play units; and

at least one identification tag to be worn by a player and configured to wirelessly transmit identifying information.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one boundary indicator to electronically indicate a boundary for the mobile game control unit.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a display output functionally connected to the mobile game control unit to display game information.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising wheels connected to the mobile game control unit.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a player input on the mobile game control unit for selecting game play options.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile game control unit includes a mobility game control unit for controlling the movement of the mobile game control unit.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile game control unit includes a processor for processing status information from each of the play units.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the play units are disks.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the visual status indicator for each play unit is a light source configured to display colored light.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the user input of the visual status indicator is a button.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the identification tag comprises an RFID transmitter configured to be detected by the play units.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile game control unit comprising a computer interface.

13. A method of playing a game, comprising:

distributing a plurality of individual play units in a game-play area, wherein each play unit includes an input for toggling the play unit from a first state to a second state and a visual output indicating the state of the play unit;

visually indicating the state of a play unit by activating the visual output on that play unit;

activating the input of a play unit to change the state of the play unit; and

transmitting status information including the change of state from the game unit to a remotely-located game control unit.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising identifying the player at the play unit when the player changes the state of the play unit.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising automatically distributing the plurality of individual play units in the game-play area using a mobile game control unit.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising initially setting about half of the play units to the first state and the remainder of the play units to the second state.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising indicating that the game is over when all of the play units are in the same state.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising calculating the winner after a timer indicates the end of game duration.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising recording information about the status of game play by the game control unit.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising uploading information from the game control unit about the status of game play to an external website.