Patent Application
20150057060
This specification relates generally to systems and methods for conducting a multiplayer online game via a communication network, and more particularly to systems and methods for conducting a 3D printer-based multiplayer online game via a communication network.
The 3D printer industry has experienced significant growth in recent years. Much of this growth is due to improvements in 3D printing technology that have made possible the construction of 3D printers that are sufficiently small and inexpensive to be offered to the general consumer.
To perform a print, a 3D printer machine typically obtains a design of a CAD model from a 3D printable file (e.g., a stereolithography file, referred to as an “STL” file) and applies an additive process by laying down successive layers of liquid, powder, paper or sheet material to build the model from a series of cross sections. These layers, which correspond to the virtual cross sections from the CAD model, are joined or automatically fused to create the final shape.
Many types of multiplayer online games have also experienced significant growth in recent years. Multiplayer online gaming enables a group of individuals to participate in a game despite being geographically separated. Popular types of multiplayer online games include war games, fantasy games, gambling, and many others. The demand for multiplayer online gaming continues to grow, and there is accordingly a continuing need for new types of multiplayer online games.
In accordance with an embodiment, a method of conducting an online game is provided. One or more stereolithography (STL) files are provided to a plurality of users, via a network, wherein the one or more STL files define respective objects. Information relating to the respective objects is received from the plurality of users. A winner is selected from among the plurality of users, based on the information received from the plurality of users.
In one embodiment, each of the plurality of users is associated with a respective 3-D printer.
In another embodiment, a single STL file defining a respective object is provided to each of the plurality of users. Alternatively, a plurality of STL files defining a plurality of objects may be provided to each of the plurality of users.
In another embodiment, a plurality of questions related to the respective objects is provided to the plurality of users. A respective plurality of answers to the plurality of questions is received from each of the plurality of users. In one embodiment, for each of the plurality of users, the plurality of answers received from the respective user is combined to generate a code, and the code is compared to a predetermined code to determine whether or not the respective user is the winner.
In another embodiment, a second STL file defining a key is provided to a selected one of the plurality of users. The key may be used to redeem a prize.
In another embodiment, a second STL file defining a special object is provided to a selected one of the plurality of users. The selected user is designated as a second winner based on the special object. In one embodiment, the special object comprises a letter of an alphabet, such as “W”.
In accordance with another embodiment, a system for conducting an online game is provided. The system includes a storage adapted to store one or more stereolithography (STL) files, each STL file defining a respective object. The system also includes a processor adapted to provide the one or more STL files to a plurality of users, via a network, receive, from the plurality of users, information relating to the respective objects, and select a winner from among the plurality of users, based on the information received from the plurality of users.
In accordance with another embodiment, a method of conducting an online game is provided. A plurality of questions relating to one or more objects defined by one or more stereolithography (STL) files is provided to a plurality of users, via a network. Information relating to the respective objects is received from the plurality of users, in response to the questions. A winner is selected from among the plurality of users, based on the information received from the plurality of users.
In one embodiment, the one or more STL files are provided to the plurality of users. The one or more STL files may define respective instances of a selected object.
In another embodiment, the plurality of questions relate to physical characteristics of the respective objects.
In accordance with another embodiment, a method of conducting an online game is provided. A plurality of stereolithography (STL) files is provided to each of a plurality of users, via a network, wherein the one or more STL files define respective objects related to a selected theme. A respective response comprising a respective identification of the theme is received from each of the plurality of users. A response correctly identifying the selected theme is determined, and a user who submitted the response is designated as a winner.
In one embodiment, the plurality of STL files define a plurality of objects. the plurality of STL files is provided to each of the plurality of users.
In another embodiment, the plurality of STL files define a plurality of objects related to a selected theme.
In another embodiment, a clue relating to the selected theme is provided to the plurality of users.
In accordance with another embodiment, a method of conducting an online game is provided. identifying information is received from each of a plurality of users. For each of the plurality of users, one or more objects defined by one or more stereolithography (STL) files are identified, the one or more objects being printable on a 3-D printer. Respective information relating to the respective one or more objects is received from each of the plurality of users. A reward is provided to one of the plurality of users based on the information received from the plurality of users.
These and other advantages of the present disclosure will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following Detailed Description and the accompanying drawings.
In accordance with an embodiment, a method of conducting a multiplayer game via a communication network is provided. One or more files, each defining a respective object printable by a 3D printer, are provided to a plurality of user devices, via a network. For example, each file may comprise a stereolithography (STL) file; however, other types of files defining objects printable by a 3D printer may be used. Information related to the respective objects associated with the one or more 3D print files is received from each respective user device. A winner is selected based on the information received from the user devices.
While three user devices and three 3D printers are shown in
Network 105 may comprise one or more of a number of different types of networks, such as, for example, the Internet, a Fibre Channel-based storage area network (SAN), an iSCSI-based network, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a wireless network, etc. Other networks may be used.
User device 160 may comprise any processing device, such as a personal computer, a mobile telephone (such as a cell phone), a laptop computer, a tablet device, a personal digital assistant, a multimedia player, etc. Each user device 160 is connected to network 105 and may communicate with game manager 135 via network 105. Each user device 160 may also communicate with one or more 3D printers via network 105. Each user device 160 may also be connected directly to a corresponding 3D printer 162, as shown in
In the illustrative embodiment, each 3D printer 162 comprises a 3D printer capable of printing an object based on a stereolithography (STL) file. Each 3D printer 162 may be any one of a variety of commercially available 3D printers, for example.
In one embodiment, game manager 135 conducts an online game in which respective users employing user devices 160-A, 160-B, 160-C, etc., are participants.
In a first illustrative embodiment, a user employing a user device 160 accesses, and logs into, a website managed by game manager 135, and accesses a web page associated with the online game. As each user logs in, game manager 135 determines the identity of the user and identifies the user device and 3-D printer that he or she is using.
Game manager 135 may provide a separate user web page for each user who logs in. On each respective user web page, game manager 135 may prompt the user to enter information identifying a 3D printer that he or she will be using. Alternatively, game manager 135 may obtain such information automatically from each user device 160.
In an illustrative embodiment, a user employing user device 160-A and 3-D printer 162-A logs into the website using a web page such as that shown in
While in the illustrative embodiments described herein, web pages are used as interfaces to enable a user to communicate with game manager 135, in other embodiments, other types of interfaces may be used. For example, a mobile application (App), or a page or screen associated with by a mobile application and displayed on a display screen of a mobile telephone, may be used.
Game manager 135 now causes user device 160-A to display a game selection page such as that shown in
In the first illustrative embodiment, the user selects “Snowflake Game” option 520. In response, game manager 135 proceeds to conduct an online game referred to as the “Snowflake Game,” which is described below.
The “Snowflake Game” is an online game to be played by a plurality of participants. Thus, it is supposed that, in addition to the first user employing user device 160-A, a second user employing user device 160-B and 3-D printer 162-B, and a third user employing user device 160-C and 3-D printer 162-C, also access the game website maintained by game manager 135. Each of the users logs in and chooses the “Snowflake Game” option 520 (shown in
In another embodiment, game manager 135 transmits to each user device 160 an STL file defining a particular object. In another embodiment, the STL file may be transmitted directly to the 3D printer associated with a user's user device.
In one embodiment, users are allowed to log in and download STL files starting at a predetermined date and time, for example, 8:00 PM on a specified date. In another embodiment, users may log in and register at any time, but STL files are not distributed until a predetermined date and time.
The STL file may define any object that is printable by a 3D printer. For example, the STL file may define a cup, a knife, a ring, etc. In an illustrative embodiment, each user device receives a different STL file defining a different object. In other embodiments, all user devices receive the same STL file.
In one embodiment, the STL files provided to various user devices define respective instances of a selected object. For example, in an illustrative embodiment, each user employing a user device 160 obtains an STL file which defines a respective snowflake (by downloading the STL file from the user web page, for example); however, each snowflake is unique. Thus, for example, the snowflake defined by the STL file received by user device 160-A is different from the snowflake defined by the STL file received by user device 160-B, etc.
In the illustrative embodiment, each STL file is encoded so that a user cannot view or otherwise determine the nature of the object defined by the STL file except by printing the file using a 3D printer.
Each user device 160 provides the STL file to the associated 3D printer 162 and instructs the 3D printer to print the object defined by the STL file. Thus, for example, after user device 160-A downloads STL file 714 from web page 700, user device 160-A provide STL file 714 to 3D printer 162-A and instructs the 3D printer to print the object defined by the STL file. In response, the 3D printer begins to print the object. In the illustrative embodiment, 3D printer 162-A begins to print the snowflake defined by the STL file.
In some embodiments, a user at each user device 160 must select an option (e.g., press a button on a display) to cause the 3D printer to print the STL file.
Referring again to
The questions may pertain to any aspect of the objects printed by the users' 3D printers, such as, for example, physical characteristics of the objects, names of the objects, sizes of the objects, use or function of the objects, locations of the objects, etc.
In the illustrative embodiment, game manager 135 presents to each user (on the user's web page) a series of questions relating to the snowflake that is being printed by the user's 3D printer.
At step 630, a plurality of answers relating to the plurality of questions are received from the plurality of users. In the illustrative example, the questions are presented successively, and the user answers each question in succession. Specifically, in the illustrative embodiment, the user enters “6” in field 921, “42” in field 923, and “76” in field 925, representing answers to questions 911, 913, and 615. After answering all of the questions, the user may indicate that he or she has answered all of the questions, for example, by pressing a “SUBMIT CODE” button 965 displayed at the bottom of web page 900. When the user selects SUBMIT CODE button 965, game manager 135 combines the answers provided by the user into an alphanumeric code. For example, game manager 135 may concatenate the answers to the questions, in an order corresponding to the order in which the questions were presented, to generate an alphanumeric code comprising a plurality of alphanumeric characters. Thus, in the illustrative example, game manager 135 concatenates the user's answers to generate the code “64276.”
At step 640, a winner is selected from among the plurality of users based on the plurality of answers. In the illustrative embodiment, game manager 135 receives answers from each user participating in the game and generates a code for each user. Game manager 135 now compares the alphanumeric codes to a predetermined winning code to determine a winning user. Specifically, game manager 135 identifies a user having a code that matches the winning code and designates that user as the winning user. More than one winner may be identified.
In other embodiments, a winning code may be generated (randomly or otherwise) after game manager 135 receives answers from the various users.
In one embodiment, only one winning code is used, and game manager 135 designates a single winner. In another embodiment, multiple winning codes may be generated, and game manager 135 may identify multiple winners. In another embodiment, multiple winning codes may be generated, and game manager 135 identifies multiple potential winners by determining the users whose alphanumeric codes match one of the winning codes; however, the final winning user is the user who first submitted a matching alphanumeric code.
In one embodiment, game manager 135 may display the number of participants (users who are playing the game) on each user's web page. Referring to
In another embodiment, game manager 135 is operated by a first entity. Users log into a first website maintained by game manager 135 to enter the game and to obtain an STL file, and to view the questions related to the printable object defined by the STL file. However, each user must access a second website operated by a second entity (for example, a sponsor) to submit the answers to the questions, and to find out if he or she is a winner.
In a second illustrative embodiment, game manager 135 conducts a game referred to as “20 Objects.” Game manager 135 provides to each user (via the user's web page, for example, or to each user device 160, or directly to each 3D printer) a plurality of STL files each defining a respective object. For example, twenty STL files defining 20 objects may be provided to each user. The objects are related to a common theme. For example, all the objects may pertain to a particular sports team, film, novel, historical figure, etc. Game manager 135 then conducts a game in which participants must print out the objects defined by the STL files, and determine the common theme. The user or users who first identify the common theme are designated the winners.
In the illustrative embodiment of
In another embodiment, each user receives one STL file at a time; a subsequent STL file is not provided until the previous STL file is downloaded and printed. In another embodiment, each successive STL file is made available at predetermined intervals, e.g., one STL file per hour, one STL file per day, etc.
Referring again to
In other embodiments, a clue may be provided in another form or another format. For example, a clue may be provided in the form of a text file, a .pdf file, a.docx file, a .xlsx file, a .dwg file, a .3do file, etc., that is transmitted to users or made available for download via a network.
In other embodiments, the “20 Objects” game may be conducted without a clue being provided to the users.
At step 1030, a respective response comprising a respective identification of the theme is received from each of the plurality of users. As users print the objects associated with the various STL files, the users may submit guesses as to the common theme. For example, a user may submit a response indicating his or her guess as to the common theme via a web page such as that shown in
In one embodiment, users may not provide responses until after a predetermined number of objects have been printed. For example, game manager 135 may not accept responses from users until five (5) objects have been printed. In one embodiment, each user may submit an answer only once. In other embodiments, a user may submit multiple answers.
At step 1040, a response correctly identifying the theme is determined. Game manager 135 compares each user's answer to the correct answer to determine which user submits the correct answer. At step 1050, a user who submitted the correct response is designated as a winner. In the illustrative embodiment, game manager 135 designates as the winner that user who first submits an answer correctly identifying the common theme.
In an illustrative example, the common theme is the basketball star Michael Jordan, formerly of the Chicago Bulls. Therefore, game manager 135 distributes STL files defining objects that relate to Michael Jordan. For example, game manager 135 may distribute to user devices 160 STL files that define the following objects:
In this example, after the third STL file is distributed, game manager 135 provides a clue indicating that “The Object is a Person.”
In another embodiment, game manager 135 selects a plurality of winners. For example, supposing that 300 people participate in the game, the first thirty participants to identify the common theme may be designated as winners.
Game manager 135 may post on each player's web page information indicating how many participants are playing and how many winners have been identified so far.
In addition, in another embodiment, game manager 135 may transmit an STL file defining a special object to one or more (randomly selected) participants; a participant who prints out the special object may also be designated a winner.
A special object may also include a number or alphanumeric code (e.g., printed on top of another object) that must be submitted to win. In the illustrative embodiment of
In accordance with another embodiment, game manager 135 provides one or more users an STL file defining a key. A user may download the STL file and use a 3D printer to print it.
The key may have defined thereon an identifier such as a number or alphanumeric code associated with the user. In the illustrative embodiment of
In one embodiment, an STL file defining such a key is awarded to a winner of one of the games described above. The winner may obtain a prize by printing the key and using it at a designated location. For example, along with the key, the winner may be informed that he or she may use the key at a particular store (which may be owned/operated by a sponsor of the game, for example) to obtain a prize. The user then prints out the key and visits the specified store, where he or she is invited to open a locked safe containing a prize. In one embodiment, multiple keys are given to a plurality of users and any one of the keys can open the safe. In another embodiment, multiple keys are given to a plurality of users; however, only one of the keys opens the safe. Alternatively, the store may inform the user that one or more designated products are available only to individuals who have the key.
In another embodiment, information enabling users to generate one or more STL files defining one or more objects is provided to a plurality of users, via a network. For example, the information may be provided to users in any suitable form, including, for example, a text file, a .pdf file, a.docx file, a .xlsx file, a .dwg file, a .3do file, etc. The information may be provided in any suitable manner, e.g., posted on a website, transmitted to each user via a network, etc.
The users receive the information, generate the STL files based on the information, and print the one or more objects using 3D printers, based on the STL files. Any of the online games described above, or another game, may then be administered. For example, an online game such as the snowflake game described above, or the twenty questions game described above, may then be played.
In one embodiment, any of the games described above may be administered in multiple regions; in each region one or more winners are selected and are awarded a key which may be used to redeem a prize.
In various embodiments, the method steps described herein, including the method steps described in
Systems, apparatus, and methods described herein may be implemented using digital circuitry, or using one or more computers using well-known computer processors, memory units, storage devices, computer software, and other components. Typically, a computer includes a processor for executing instructions and one or more memories for storing instructions and data. A computer may also include, or be coupled to, one or more mass storage devices, such as one or more magnetic disks, internal hard disks and removable disks, magneto-optical disks, optical disks, etc.
Systems, apparatus, and methods described herein may be implemented using computers operating in a client-server relationship. Typically, in such a system, the client computers are located remotely from the server computer and interact via a network. The client-server relationship may be defined and controlled by computer programs running on the respective client and server computers.
Systems, apparatus, and methods described herein may be used within a network-based cloud computing system. In such a network-based cloud computing system, a server or another processor that is connected to a network communicates with one or more client computers via a network. A client computer may communicate with the server via a network browser application residing and operating on the client computer, for example. A client computer may store data on the server and access the data via the network. A client computer may transmit requests for data, or requests for online services, to the server via the network. The server may perform requested services and provide data to the client computer(s). The server may also transmit data adapted to cause a client computer to perform a specified function, e.g., to perform a calculation, to display specified data on a screen, etc.
Systems, apparatus, and methods described herein may be implemented using a computer program product tangibly embodied in an information carrier, e.g., in a non-transitory machine-readable storage device, for execution by a programmable processor; and the method steps described herein, including one or more of the steps of
A high-level block diagram of an exemplary computer that may be used to implement systems, apparatus and methods described herein is illustrated in
Processor 1701 may include both general and special purpose microprocessors, and may be the sole processor or one of multiple processors of computer 1700. Processor 1701 may include one or more central processing units (CPUs), for example. Processor 1701, data storage device 1702, and/or memory 1703 may include, be supplemented by, or incorporated in, one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) and/or one or more field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs).
Data storage device 1702 and memory 1703 each include a tangible non-transitory computer readable storage medium. Data storage device 1702, and memory 1703, may each include high-speed random access memory, such as dynamic random access memory (DRAM), static random access memory (SRAM), double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR RAM), or other random access solid state memory devices, and may include non-volatile memory, such as one or more magnetic disk storage devices such as internal hard disks and removable disks, magneto-optical disk storage devices, optical disk storage devices, flash memory devices, semiconductor memory devices, such as erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), digital versatile disc read-only memory (DVD-ROM) disks, or other non-volatile solid state storage devices.
Input/output devices 1705 may include peripherals, such as a printer, scanner, display screen, etc. For example, input/output devices 1705 may include a display device such as a cathode ray tube (CRT) or liquid crystal display (LCD) monitor for displaying information to the user, a keyboard, and a pointing device such as a mouse or a trackball by which the user can provide input to computer 1700.
Any or all of the systems and apparatus discussed herein, including game manager 135 and user device 160, and components thereof, may be implemented using a computer such as computer 1700.
One skilled in the art will recognize that an implementation of an actual computer or computer system may have other structures and may contain other components as well, and that
The foregoing Detailed Description is to be understood as being in every respect illustrative and exemplary, but not restrictive, and the scope of the invention disclosed herein is not to be determined from the Detailed Description, but rather from the claims as interpreted according to the full breadth permitted by the patent laws. It is to be understood that the embodiments shown and described herein are only illustrative of the principles of the present invention and that various modifications may be implemented by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Those skilled in the art could implement various other feature combinations without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/868,199, filed on Aug. 21, 2013, and of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/933,141, filed on Jan. 29, 2014. Each of the aforementioned provisional patent applications is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety for all purposes.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61868199 | Aug 2013 | US | |
| 61933141 | Jan 2014 | US |
