The present invention relates to interaction between users and objects, and more particularly, to systems wherein a second object is moved in response to the action taken with respect to a first object.
The abundance of inexpensive computer processors has greatly influenced recreational and educational games by enabling a high level of interactivity between the user and devices. For instance, many computerized games that enable a human player to play against a computerized opponent have already been developed. Typically, such computerized games provide a visual display of the game activity through an electronic display system to create a dynamic interactive multi-media environment. Unfortunately, such display lacks the three-dimensional nature that allows the physical interaction inherent in traditional board-based games. In addition, almost all computerized games are screen-based and require the players to interact with an electronic screen, whether it is on a laptop computer, a smart phone, or a tablet computer. As a result, users are increasingly exposed to screens from an early age when they use computerized interactive systems for either entertainment or education purpose.
On the other hand, traditional interactive systems may use one or more movable objects that users (especially young ones) find more “natural” and easier to interact with. For example, the conviviality and sensation offered by traditional board games where game pieces can be touched and manipulated is certainly advantageous. However, they often lack audio and/or visual interaction or other forms of sophisticated feedback that computerized games can offer.
Thus, it is desirable to provide a new and innovative game system that negates the use of electronic screens but maintains the power of computer systems to allow for a greater level of interactivity between the user and the system. It is also desirable to provide a system that negates the weakness of traditional interactive systems whilst utilizing their strength. The present invention provides a system for directing moving physical objects on an interactive surface for entertainment, education or productivity purposes. Preferably, such system does not include a screen, but includes a processor so as to fully take advantage of the interactive power provided by the computer system.
The present invention provides a novel way of directing movement of a moving object by use of an interactive surface in conjunction with a processor. The interactive surface is configured to recognize the physical objects that have been placed on the surface, and the processor is configured to direct the movement of the moving object in response to the action of a first object.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a user places a plurality of physical objects on an interactive surface. The physical object can be a chip, a button, a token, a card, a figurine, a block, or a game piece. Each of the physical objects comprises an identifier that comprises the ID information of the object, and at least one object is a moving object embedded with a movement module. An RF antenna, a power source and a micro computer unit (MCU) are further embedded in each moving object, and the MCU is operatively linked to the RF antenna and the movement module. The power source can be a battery or a wireless charging device. Once the physical objects are placed on the interactive surface, the interactive surface is configured to recognize the ID and location and orientation of the physical objects, such as using RFID technology. If any actions are taken on these physical objects, the ID and location and orientation information of the objects can still be tracked by the interactive surface. The action initiated by a first user with respect to an object on the interactive surface can be placing the object on the interactive surface, removing the object away from the interactive surface, changing the location of the object on the interactive surface, or changing the orientation of the object on the interactive surface.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a processor is operatively linked to the interactive surface. After a plurality of physical objects have been detected and identified by the interactive surface, the processor receives information regarding the physical objects and is configured to process the information.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, once an action by a first user with respect to a first object on the interactive surface is taken, the processor is configured to generate a moving instruction for a moving object, based on the UID and location information of the first object and the moving object and the user-defined rules regarding the objects encoded in a computer program that is operatively linked to the processor and configured to determine the correlation between an action by the first user to the first object and a movement of the moving object. The computer program can be an electronic game, an educational program, or a productivity application, and can be executed either locally or remotely.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the movement module of the moving object further comprises a moving component such as wheels, legs and roller chains and an electric motor for driving the moving component. The movement module supports the main body of the moving object and provides the movement capability to the moving object. Once a moving instruction for the moving object is generated by the processor, data containing the moving instruction is transmitted by the processor to the moving object via RF communication between the interactive surface and the RF antenna embedded in the moving object. The data is then processed by the MCU embedded in the moving object and the instruction is sent to the movement module. Driven by the electric motor, the moving component moves the moving object on the interactive surface.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the computer program is also configured to take an input from an action of a second user before the processor generates the moving instruction for the moving object, if applicable. In this case, the second user could be physically in a different location from the first user.
Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the invention will be described in conjunction with the embodiments, it will be understood that this is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to these specific embodiments. The invention is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents within the spirit and scope of invention, which is defined by the apprehended claims.
Furthermore, in the detailed description of the present invention, specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known methods, procedures, components, and circuits are not described in details to avoid unnecessarily obscuring a clear understanding of the present invention.
The present invention may be better understood and its numerous objectives and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying drawings.
The embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for directing a moving object by use of an interactive surface in conjunction with a processor.
The physical objects could include chips, buttons, tokens, cards, figurines, blocks, and game pieces. The identifier of the object includes a unique identification code (UID), and the UID can be encoded with a radio frequency identification chip, a pattern of capacitive tabs, or a pattern of magnetic tabs.
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To facilitate its movement, the moving game piece 205 includes a movement module 206 as well as a power source and a micro computer unit (MCU) that is operatively linked to the RF antenna and the movement module 206. The movement module 206 further includes a moving component selected from wheels, legs and roller chains and a motor for driving the moving component. The power source can be a battery or a wireless charging device. Once a moving instruction for the moving game piece 205 is generated by processor 203, the data containing the instruction is transmitted by the processor 203 to the moving game piece 205 via RF communication between the interactive surface 201 and the RF antenna embedded in the moving game piece 205. The data is then processed by the MCU embedded in the moving game piece 205 and the instruction is sent to the movement module 206. Driven by the electric motor, the moving component moves the moving game piece 205 to a location on the interactive surface 201 in response to the action of the first game piece 202.
Once the moving game piece 205 makes a move, the user can make the next move with the first game piece 202. Thus, with the first game piece 202 and the moving game piece 205 moving alternatively on the interactive surface 201, the board game CANDYLAND can be played until the winner reaches the candy castle at the end of the path.
To make the movement of a moving chessman 305 possible, each moving chessman 305 further includes a movement module 306 as well as a power source and a micro computer unit (MCU) that is operatively linked to the RF antenna and the movement module 306. The movement module 306 further includes a moving component selected from wheels, legs and roller chains and a motor for driving the moving component. Once the second player makes a counter-move with the moving chessman 305, the first player can make a next move of chessman 302. Thus, with chessman 302 and moving chessman 305 moving alternatively on the interactive chessboard 301, the CHESS game can be played.
It should be further noticed that, if the second player is provided with the same game apparatus as the first player, i.e., the interactive surface 301, the chessmen 302 and the moving chessmen 305, the play of the CHESS game for the first player will be completely mirrored to that for the second player. In another word, multiple identical games can be run simultaneously at different locations.
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In this embodiment, two types of objects are used to illustrate the actual progress of a project. Specifically, as shown in
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A method for directing a moving object by use of an interactive surface is broken into several steps in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. The method in this embodiment may be implemented in the system embodiment shown in
Step i: placing a plurality of objects on or near an interactive surface, and each object is embedded with a unique identification code (UID).
Step ii: recognizing the UID and location information of the plurality of objects placed on or near the interactive surface, by the interactive surface.
Step iii: initiating an action by a first user with respect to a first object among the plurality of objects.
Step iv: generating a moving instruction for a second object based on the UID and location information of the first object and the second object and user-defined rules regarding the objects, by a processor. The user-defined rules are encoded in a computer program that is operatively linked to the processor and executed by the processor.
Step v: directing the second object to move in accordance with the instruction, by the processor.
This application is a continuation in part of International Patent Application No. PCT/CN2014/084498, entitled “System and Method for Directing a Moving Object on an Interactive Surface”, filed on Aug. 15, 2014, which is a continuation in part of International Patent Application No. PCT/CN2014/079891, entitled “System and Method for Operating a Computer Program with Physical Objects”, filed on Jun. 13, 2014. The International Patent Application No. PCT/CN2014/084498 is also a continuation in part of International Patent Application No. PCT/CN2014/080495, entitled “System and Method to Recognize an Object's ID, Orientation and Location Relative to an Interactive Surface”, filed on Jun. 23, 2014, which is a continuation in part of International Patent Application No. PCT/CN2014/079892, entitled “System and Method for Identifying an Object's ID and Location Relative to an Interactive Surface”, filed on Jun. 13, 2014. The entire disclosures of each of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | PCT/CN2014/084498 | Aug 2014 | US |
Child | 15014042 | US | |
Parent | PCT/CN2014/079891 | Jun 2014 | US |
Child | PCT/CN2014/084498 | US | |
Parent | PCT/CN2014/080495 | Jun 2014 | US |
Child | PCT/CN2014/079891 | US | |
Parent | PCT/CN2014/079892 | Jun 2014 | US |
Child | PCT/CN2014/080495 | US |