WO2003067175A1

WO2003067175A1 - Gaming apparatus, gaming apparatus system, and method of communication thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2003067175A1
Application number: PCT/GB2003/000555
Authority: WO
Inventors: David Trevor Cliff; Rycharde Hawkes; Colin Low
Original assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
Current assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
Priority date: 2002-02-07
Filing date: 2003-02-07
Publication date: 2003-08-14
Anticipated expiration: 2004-08-07
Also published as: GB0202819D0; GB2385002A

Abstract

The present invention discloses gaming apparatus (2,21) comprising an emitter (6) for peer to peer communication, a responder (10) for receiving emitted peer to peer signals (A) and a cellular wireless communication transmitter (12), said apparatus is configured to communicate a hit signal to a game server node (26) to indicate a peer to peer communication. A corresponding system and communication method is also disclosed.

Description

GAMING APPARATUS, GAMING APPARATUS SYSTEM, AND METHOD OF COMMUNICATION THEREOF

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to gaming apparatus, gaming system and to communication methods .

Background to the Invention

Paint ball and laser tag games have become relatively common leisure activities.

In paint ball games a user has a special gun capable of firing paint pellets that burst on impact to indicate a hit. The game normally takes place between two opposing teams. Of necessity, a paintball game must take place on private property because of the potential safety hazards. In fact, considerable safety equipment is worn, such as eye and face masks, when participating in such a game.

There are various versions of laser tag games, but in general terms each player has a special gun that fires visible or infra red light, either as a coherent (laser) beam or highly focused beam, to be picked up by a responder worn by or carried on the gun of the other contestants. The responder registers the hit at a central server which maintains team and/or personal scores including the number and location of hits, as well as hit:miss ratio. Such a game can only be played in the confines of a defined and relatively small playing area as the communication equipment is only capable of short range transmission. None of the known gaming equipment, however, enables a shooting game to be played in a controlled fashion in the wider world.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention aim to provide an improved gaming apparatus and communication method.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention in a first aspect, there is provided a gaming apparatus comprising an emitter for peer to peer communication to generate emitted peer to peer signals, a responder for receiving emitted peer to peer signals, and a wireless communication transmitter, which apparatus is configured to communicate a hit signal to a game server computer node to indicate a peer to peer communication; in which the game server node comprises means for at least approximately locating the position of the gaming apparatus communicating the hit signal.

Suitably, the emitter is a directional beam emitter.

Suitably, the directional beam comprises coherent electromagnetic radiation.

Suitably, the emitter is configured to emit a peer to peer signal characteristic of the gaming apparatus.

Suitably, the gaming apparatus further comprises a cellular wireless communication receiver. Suitably, the wireless communication transmitter is configured to transmit a signal including information of the received peer to peer communication to identify a transmitting gaming apparatus .

Suitably, the game server computer node is configured to record hit information.

Suitably, the game server computer node is configured to transmit hit information to a gaming apparatus emitting a received peer to peer communication.

Suitably, the game server computer node comprises means for communicating to a gaming apparatus location information of another gaming apparatus .

According to the present invention in a second aspect, there is provided a gaming system comprising a gaming apparatus and a game server computer node according to the first aspect of the present invention.

According to the present invention in a third aspect, there is provided a communication method for use with a gaming apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, in which, upon a peer to peer communication being received, a hit signal is communicated to a game server computer node via a wireless communication network; in which the game server computer node at least approximately locates the position of the emitting apparatus.

Suitably, a directional beam is emitted. Suitably, the directional beam comprises coherent electromagnetic radiation.

Suitably, a peer to peer signal characteristic of the gaming apparatus is emitted.

Suitably, the gaming apparatus further comprises a cellular wireless communication receiver.

Suitably, the wireless communication transmitter is configured to transmit a signal including information of the received peer to peer communication to identify a transmitting gaming apparatus .

Suitably, the game server computer node records hit, information.

Suitably, the game server computer node transmits hit information to a gaming apparatus emitting a received peer to peer communication.

Suitably, the game server computer node communicates to an gaming apparatus location information of another gaming apparatus .

Brief Description of the Drawings

The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings that follow; in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a gaming apparatus according to the present invention. Figure 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of a gaming apparatus and method using the gaming apparatus of Figure 1.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings that follow there is shown a first gaming apparatus indicated generally by reference numeral 2. The gaming apparatus 2 comprises a casing 4 in which is located a laser emitter 6, a laser activator 8, a laser responder 10 and a wireless telephone communication transmitter-receiver 12. Gaming apparatus 2 additionally comprises a processor 14, a display screen 16, a battery 18 and a button 19.

The laser emitter 6 is a class II non-hazardous laser light emitter, which emits coherent electromagnetic radiation with less than 1 milli-watt power output. The laser activator 8 comprises control circuitry, as is well known in the art, for activating the laser emitter 6 and to modulate the emitted laser signal. Primarily, the modulation of the emitted laser signal is characteristic of the apparatus 2 so it can be identified uniquely from the modulated laser signal.

Laser responder 10 detects laser signals from other similar gaming apparatus and transmits the received signal to processor 14.

Wireless telephony communication transmitter-receiver 12 enables the apparatus 2 to communicate via a wireless telephony cellular communication network to transmit and receive signals.

Display screen 16 is an liquid crystal display (LCD) capable of displaying alphanumeric characters and images . An LCD display of the type found in most mobile phones is suitable for the display screen 16.

The gaming apparatus 2 is portable and is powered by battery 18.

Referring to Figure 2 of the drawings that follow, there is shown the gaming apparatus 2 and another similar second gaming apparatus 20. Figure 2 also shows a communication network 22, an internet web-site 24 and a game server computer node 26. Game server computer node 26 comprises a location determiner 28 which comprises means for locating, at least approximately, the variable position of gaming apparatus 2, 20. Game server computer node 26 further comprises means 30 for communicating to a gaming apparatus location information of another apparatus.

Gaming apparatus 20 differs from first gaming apparatus 2 by emitting a laser signal that is modulated differently from the emitted laser signal of first gaming apparatus 2, so that each apparatus 2, 20 can be identified by its substantially unique emitted laser signal . Further the communication transmitter-receiver of second gaming apparatus 20 has a different address for communication to/from the wireless telephony network.

Communication network 22 is a cellular wireless telephony network, typically for mobile phone networks. Thus the apparatus can be used over a wide area ranging between physically adjacent cells. Communication protocols for mobile phone networks can be used for embodiments of the present invention.

Internet web-site 24 is supported by game server computer node 26. Game server computer node 26 supports a database of player results .

Operation of apparatus 2, 20 according to preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described.

A user of first apparatus 2 wishing to score a "hit" on the user of second gaming apparatus 20 aligns their first gaming apparatus 2 so that the laser emitter 6 is aiming at the laser responder 10 of second gaming apparatus 20 and then depresses button 19 on the first gaming apparatus 2 to fire the laser. Processor 14 instructs laser actuator 8 to activate laser emitter 6 to emit a modulated signal, the modulation being determined by processor 14.

This is signal A in Figure 2 .

If the directional laser signal A is poorly aimed it may miss the laser detector on second gaming apparatus 20, in which case second gaming apparatus 20 takes no action. First gaming apparatus 2 may, however, include a memory to record the number of "shots" fired to enable a hitrmiss ratio to be determined.

If the directional laser signal A is aligned with laser responder 10 on second gaming apparatus 20, this represents a peer to peer communication and a HIT signal is sent to processor 14 of second gaming apparatus 20 with a digital representation of the modulation of signal A to record a successful hit on second gaming apparatus 20 from first gaming apparatus 2.

Second gaming apparatus 20 communicates the "hit" from first gaming apparatus 2 to game server computer node 26 via the communication network 22. Such messages may be transmitted periodically, immediately after a hit or when the apparatus 20 is interrogated. This is indicated by signal B in Figure 2. Gamer server computer node 26 then confirms the "hit" to first gaming apparatus 2 via the communication network 22. This is signal C in Figure 2.

In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the apparatus 2, 20 comprise voice network mobile phones with additional laser transmitters and responders. In this way the existing mobile phone communication network can be used and short message service (SMS) messages can be transmitted to and from gaming apparatus 2, 20. Communication from apparatus 2, 20 by game server computer node 26 may use SMS messages as well. In that case the casing 4 is the mobile phone casing.

Laser responders can be on the casing 4 or may be carried separately by a user. For instance, a responder may be worn by a user as a badge to indicate their participation. Communication between the responder 4 and the processor 14 may be wireless.

The game server 26 maintains tables of player scores, who hit whom etc, that can be accessed, and may support chat rooms, enable teams to be formed and provide other facilities accessible over the internet.

The location of each apparatus 2, 20 is tracked by game server computer node 26 by any convenient means. The apparatus location need not be known precisely. In the case of an apparatus comprising a mobile phone, location awareness of the mobile phone within a given cell can be used. Alternatively, time delays of signals to different base stations can be used, comparison of relative signal strengths and/or triangulation can be used. With the location of each apparatus known to the game server 26, messages can be sent using communication means 30 to corresponding apparatus as they approach each other. For instance a message such as: "PLAYER 457 APPROACHING"; "TEAM MATE 23 WITHIN 10 METRES"; "OPPONENT WITHIN 100 METRES" etc. may be sent. Generally more precise information will be sent about team mates than about enemies . These may for instance be by SMS messaging or pre-recorded voice messages.

Although in the preferred embodiments described above messages are displayed on the screen; other communication methods can be employed such as speech synthesis or coded alarm sounds.

In some embodiments, the hit signal will not be transmitted back to the firing apparatus 2. Rather it will be recorded in the game server database to be inspected by relevant players, including the user of apparatus 2, 20, at a web-site or the like. Charging of users of the apparatus may be by selling adapted equipment for the apparatus or as a percentage of the communication costs involved in the method and use of the apparatus .

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) , and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) , may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment (s) . The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) , or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

1. Gaming apparatus comprising an emitter for peer to peer communication to generate emitted peer to peer signals, a responder for receiving emitted peer to peer signals, and a wireless communication transmitter, which apparatus is configured to communicate a hit signal to a game server computer node to indicate a peer to peer communication; in which the game server node comprises means for at least approximately locating the position of the gaming apparatus communicating the hit signal.

2. Gaming apparatus according to claim 1, in which the emitter is a directional beam emitter.

3. Gaming apparatus according to claim 2 , in which the directional beam comprises coherent electromagnetic radiation.

4. Gaming apparatus according to claim 1, in which the emitter is configured to emit a peer to peer signal characteristic of the gaming apparatus.

5. Gaming apparatus according to claim 1, in which the gaming apparatus further comprises a cellular wireless communication receiver.

6. Gaming apparatus according to claim 1, in which the wireless communication transmitter is configured to transmit a signal including information of the received peer to peer communication to identify a transmitting gaming apparatus .

7. Gaming apparatus according to claim 1, in which the game server computer node is configured to record hit information.

8. Gaming apparatus according to claim 7, in which the game server computer node is configured to transmit hit information to a gaming apparatus emitting a received peer to peer communication.

9. Gaming apparatus according to claim 1, in which the game server computer node comprises means for communicating to a gaming apparatus location information of another gaming apparatus .

10. Gaming apparatus according to claim 1, in which the wireless communication transmitter is a cellular wireless communication transmitter.

11. A gaming system comprising a gaming apparatus and a game server computer node according to claim 1.

12. A communication method for use with a gaming apparatus according to claim 1, in which, upon a peer to peer communication being received, a hit signal is communicated to a game server computer node via a wireless communication network; in which the game server computer node at least approximately locates the position of the emitting apparatus .

13. A communication method according to claim 12 , in which the wireless communication network is a cellular wireless communication network.

14. A communication method according to claim 12, in which a directional beam is emitted.

15. A communication method according to claim 14, in which the directional beam comprises coherent electromagnetic radiation.

16. A communication method according to claim 12, in which a peer to peer signal characteristic of the gaming apparatus is emitted.

17. A communication method according to claim 12, in which the gaming apparatus further comprises a wireless communication receiver.

18. A communication method according to claim 12, in which the wireless communication transmitter is configured to transmit a signal including information of the received peer to peer communication to identify a transmitting gaming apparatus .

19. A communication method according to claim 12, in which the game server computer node records hit information.

20. A communication method according to claim 19, in which the game server computer node transmits hit information to a gaming apparatus emitting a received peer to peer communication.

21. A communication method according to claim 12, in which the game server computer node communicates to a gaming apparatus location information of another gaming apparatus .