WO2009123440A1

WO2009123440A1 - System, user module, and central processing device for providing a game activity to at least one user.

Info

Publication number: WO2009123440A1
Application number: PCT/NL2009/000077
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jan-Auke Ferwerda; Joost Cornelis Van Uden
Original assignee: Outdoor Game Console B.V.
Priority date: 2008-04-03
Filing date: 2009-04-01
Publication date: 2009-10-08
Also published as: NL1035251C2

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system for providing a game activity to at least one user, comprising at least one user module that can be worn by the at least one user, processing means, and position determination means for determining a position of the at least one user module. The system is designed for passing on the position of the at least one user module to the processing means. The system further comprises memory means for storing game management information and for providing said game management information to the processing means. The processing means are designed for controlling the game activity through the provision of control commands to the at least one user module in dependence on the game management information and in dependence on the position of the at least one user module. The at least one user module is designed for providing indication signals to the at least one user in dependence on the control commands. The invention further relates to a user module, a central processing unit, and a method of providing a game activity.

Description

System, user module, and central processing device for providing a game activity to at least one user.

DESCRIPTION Field of the invention

The invention relates to a system for providing a game activity to at least one user, comprising at least one user module that can be worn by the at least one user as well as processing means. The invention further relates to a user module and to a central processing device, both designed for use is a system as described above.

Background of the invention

Partly owing to the popularity of the (game) computer, outdoor games and sports are no longer at the top of the list of children's priorities. Playing outdoors, however, running, climbing, and romping do provide children with the exercise they need on a daily basis. There is often a lack of environmental stimuli

(space and facilities) in parts of major cities for children to play actively outdoors.

Children accordingly pass their time in alternative activities. Low-threshold activities such as those offered by the computer and watching television are easily accessible and addictive into the bargain. Playing outside, for example street football, hide-and-seek and the like, thus often take second place against the indoor activities mentioned above.

Since these children now have a lack of physical exercise, their health deteriorates, and problems such as obesity become a real threat. There are indications that obesity will constitute a relatively serious problem in society in the future.

Summary of the invention

To protect society from social problems such as premature death, reduced labour potential, and an increased portion of the gross national income being spent on health care, it appears to be necessary to take active measures aimed at young people. It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a system that stimulates children to play outside and that is of a sufficiently low-threshold and interesting nature for it to become popular among young people. The invention for this purpose offers a system for providing a game activity to at least one user, comprising at least one user module that can be worn by the at least one user, processing means, and position determination means for determining a position of the at least one user module, wherein the system is designed for passing on the position of the at least one user module to the processing means, and further comprising memory means for storing game management information and designed for providing the game management information to the processing means, wherein the processing means are designed for controlling the game activity through the provision of control commands to the at least one user module on the basis of the game management information and the position of the at least one user module, and wherein the at least one user module is designed for providing indication signals to the at least one user in dependence on the control commands.

Since the position determination means pass on the position of the at least one user module to the processing means, said processing means are capable of controlling the progress of the game on the basis of the position of the at least one user module and the game management information. The expression "game management information" denotes information on the basis of which the game can be controlled, i.e. especially, for example, rules of the game. The control of the progress of the game takes place in that indication signals are provided to the at least one user. The user is made aware of these indication signals by way of the user module. Said indication signals preferably comprise not only indication signals communicated to the user wearing the user module, but they are provided by the user module in such a manner that they are recognisable to all other users/players taking part in the game activity. In a game with two teams, for example a blue team and a green team, users in the blue team may wear a user module that generates blue light while the game is going on. When a player from the blue team, for example, has lost his turn or is disqualified by the rules, the blue light of his user module may, for example, change to red light, which is visible to all other competitors. All competitors then know that the relevant player at that moment is not taking part in the game.

It is not only possible to provide light signals, but according to an embodiment it is also possible to provide other indication signals, for example indication signals chosen from a group comprising lighting means for providing light signals of one or more colours, sound generating means for providing acoustic signals, means for generating tactile signals such as vibration units or units for exerting forces on the body of the at least one user, and display means for presenting information to the at least one user. A game system according to the invention may be used outdoors, for example, but it is also possible to use such a system in a building, for example in a sports hall or other suitable space. Various alternative embodiments of the game system are possible. According to an embodiment, for example, the game system comprises a central processing device that is designed for providing the control commands to the at least one user module, for example via wireless communication means. The position of the at least one user module is determined by the position determination means, which may be incorporated in the central processing device or in one or more of the processing devices in the user modules. Alternatively, the position determination means may be located externally with respect to the processing means or the user modules.

Position determination may take place in various manners. The position determination should be sufficiently accurate so as to be able to pinpoint the user modules to within an accuracy of at most 0.5 to 1 metre. Were this not the case, the field of play would have to be too large, and position determination would be insufficiently accurate for the rules of the game to be observed. Position determination may be based, for example, on a technology chosen from a group comprising ultra wide band (UWB), global positioning system (GPS), Galileo, radio navigation, radar navigation, triangulation of signals emitted by the at least one user module, and other positioning and navigation techniques. Ultra wide band (UWB) was found to be a highly suitable position determination technique for the present application. It is further noted that, although commercially applied GPS has an accuracy of approximately 5 metres, the GPS technology is intrinsically much more accurate and may accordingly nevertheless be suitable for use in a system according to the invention. The technology used for the communication between the processing means and the at least one user module should enable an effective communication over a distance of at least a few tens of metres. Possibilities here are, for example, ultra wide band (UWB), Bluetooth, radio-based communication techniques, etc.

According to a further embodiment, a system configuration according to the invention consists of a system comprising at least one user module, and the processing means are incorporated in the at least one user module. The at least one user module itself thus monitors the progress of the game and provides the user with the necessary indication signals. When the at least one user module takes part, for example, in a group game activity organised within a group of user modules in this manner, it is possible, for example, that one or more of the participating user modules comprise(s) processing means for monitoring the progress of the game and for transmitting game control commands. It is obviously also possible that each user module independently monitors the progress of the game and that mutual communications take place where possible for exchanging information and synchronising the various user modules.

The memory means for storing the game management information may be formed, for example, by plug-in modules that can be connected to the processing means. Other possibilities are universal serial bus (USB) memory sticks, memory cards, magnetic memory means, memory means communicating with the processing means via Bluetooth, or internal memory means connected to the processing means. The game management information that can be stored in the memory means provides the possibility of managing different types and versions of games, so that the invention provides a game system with which many different games can be played.

The at least one user module may be constructed in many different ways, but always such that it can be worn by a user. The user module may, for example, be a unit that is carried by the user, for example in a trouser pocket, or it may alternatively be designed for detachable fastening to the body or part thereof, or to a user's clothing. Examples are a bracelet, a wrist band, a glove, a head band, a harness device such as a shoulder holster, a hip belt, a leg band, a headgear, a set of earphones, a shoe, a pair of trousers, a waistcoat, or a user module provided with clamping or fastening means.

According to a further aspect, the invention relates to a method of providing a game activity to at least one user by means of a system according to one of the preceding claims, said system comprising at least one user module that can be worn by the at least one user, processing means, memory means for storing

■ game management information, and position determination means, said method comprising the steps of: determining a position of the at least one user module with the use of the position determination means; passing on the position of the at least one user module to the processing means; providing game management information to the processing means; controlling the game activity through the provision by the processing means of control commands to the at least one user module in dependence on the game management information and in dependence on the position of the at least one user module; and providing indication signals to the at least one user by the at least one user module in dependence on the control commands. This method may be implemented by means of a computer programme product, which is also part of the invention.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention will be described in more detail below with reference to a few embodiments, which are not to be regarded as limiting, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a system according to the invention;

Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of a system according to the invention; and

Figure 3 shows a user module for use in a system according to the present invention fastened to a user's arm.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiments The invention provides a versatile sports and game system that may be used in sports training sessions, group activities, and games, as well as for educational purposes. The invention has various embodiments based on independent user modules and systems that may or may not communicate with one another and that consist of central units communicating with user modules, the latter forming a collective. Data processing takes place in real time.

Figure 1 shows a system according to an embodiment of the invention. An imaginary playing field 1 is indicated with a broken line in figure 1. In this playing field there are a number of players who take part in a game activity. Each of the players wears a user module, such as the user modules 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. The user module may be worn, for example, fastened to a limb or a garment of a user. The participants in the game activity in the example of figure 1 have been subdivided into two groups: group A and group B. The user modules belonging to a participant in group A have been marked "A", i.e. user modules 3, 4, 5, and 6. The user modules belonging to a participant in group B have been marked "B", i.e. user modules 7, 8, 9, and 10. Furthermore, there is a central unit 13 in the playing field, for example serving as a home or target, which plays a part in the game activity. The subdivision of the participants into groups obviously depends on the actual game to be played; it is equally possible to work with individual participants.

The presence of a central unit, such as the unit 13, is optional. It is present in the embodiment shown in figure 1 and described here. The power of the idea is, however, that the system may also operate without a central unit such as, for example, the embodiment shown in figure 2 and discussed further below. In that case the user modules are separate units that together form the system but are not dependent on one another. Each module is capable of forming a system with any other modules without being dependent on the presence of other hardware such as a central unit. A user may thus purchase his/her user module individually and subsequently form a system with other users who possess a user module.

In figure 1 each of the user modules 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 is provided with an antenna unit such as, for example, the antenna unit 14 of the user module 8. The home base 13 is also provided with an antenna unit 16. The user modules 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 as well as the home base 13 can communicate with one another and with a central unit 20, which manages the game activity. A further function of the antenna units of the user modules 3 to 10 is that they render it possible to determine the positions of the user modules in the playing field 1. The central unit 20 comprises a microprocessor unit 24 and communication means 21. The communication means 21 are connected to an antenna unit 19 for the transmission of signals, for example data traffic, to the user modules 3 to 10 and/or the home base 13. The central processing unit 20 further comprises a position determination unit 25 that is capable of determining the position of each of the user modules 3 to 10 and of the home base 13 in the playing field, for example by means of ultra wide band (UWB). The actual position as determined by these position determination means 25 can be passed on to the microprocessor unit 24 for managing the game activity. The microprocessor unit 24 knows where the user modules 3 to 10 are located in the playing field 1 at any given moment on the basis of the data received from the position determination means 25.

The microprocessor unit 24 is capable of registering a points score for the groups A and B by means of suitable software based on game management information such as game rules and is also capable of determining whether the players with user modules 3 to 10 keep to the rules. The microprocessor unit 24 may, for example, detect that a user is outside the field of play in accordance with the rules of the game. The microprocessor unit 24 can generate control commands on the basis of the instantaneous positions of the user modules 3 to 10 and the game management information. These control commands can be transmitted to the user modules 3 to 10 via the communication means 21 and the antenna unit 19. It is possible in this manner to transmit a control command to the antenna unit 14 of the user module 8 when the latter is to be temporarily disqualified from participating in the game, for example because of a violation of a rule or a compliance with a certain criterion. It is also possible, if so desired, to pass on score information to the user modules. Upon receiving a control command to the effect that it is temporarily disqualified from participating in the game, the user module 8 will notify the user wearing this module 8 that he/she is temporarily disqualified from playing. An example of this is that the user module is constructed as a wrist band and that the user module 8 is brightly illuminated in red so as to communicate to the user wearing the user module 8 as well as to the other participants in the game that this user is temporarily out of play.

The home or target 13 may fulfil a different role in the game. Thus it is possible for the disqualified participant associated with the user module 8 to be obliged to move as quickly as possible to the target 13, and to be automatically qualified again by the central processing unit 20 upon reaching the target 13 (or coming within a certain distance therefrom) in that control commands transmitted by the microprocessor unit 24 are received. The participant associated with the user module 8 then can join in the game again. The antenna unit 16 of the target 13 in this case serves as a means for determining the position of the target 13 in the playing field. It is alternatively possible for the target 13 to play a special part in the game, such that the antenna unit 16 of the target 13 also receives control commands from the central unit 20 and in response to the received control command provides a certain indication to the players of the game, for example through a change in colour or the display of a score. The user modules 3 to 10 and the target 13 may provide information to the participants in various manners, for example through light signals, acoustic signals, vibrations, and other tactile signals.

The central processing unit 20 further comprises an input/output gate 26 to which a plug-in module 29 is connected. The input/output gate 26 may be, for example, a regular universal serial bus (USB) connection into which a memory card can be inserted. The plug-in module 29 comprises a memory 30 in which the game management information is stored. The microprocessor unit 24 can read this information from the memory 30 of the plug-in module 29, and optionally information may be written from the microprocessor unit 24 to the memory unit 30. Thus it is possible to write all position information received from the position determination means 25 into the memory 30 of the plug-in module 29, so that the progress of the game can be displayed on a screen after the game has ended (for an analysis of the game or simply as an entertainment). Scores, lists of participants, and other data relating to the game may obviously also be written into the memory 30. In the embodiment of figure 1 , the memory 30 containing the game information is constructed as a plug-in module 29 connected to an USB gate. Those skilled in the art will understand that this memory may be joined with the central processing unit 20 of figure 1 in an alternative manner, for example in the form of a resident memory. Another possibility is to retrieve the game information via a live link and a telecommunication network (not shown), for example from a central server. Other solutions for providing the game management information to the microprocessor unit 24 will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

Figure 2 shows a further preferred embodiment of the system according to the invention, wherein a plurality of user modules 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41 , 42, and 43 are present in a playing field 35. Each user module, such as the user module 36, is provided with a microprocessor unit 46, communication means 47, position determination means 45, and a communication antenna 49. The user modules may further be provided with a memory 48 in which game management information can be stored. The memory 48 may be constructed as a resident memory that forms part of a user module or it may be a plug-in module to be inserted into the user module. The position determination means 45 cooperate with the communication means 47 and the antenna 49 for determining the positions of the other user modules in the vicinity.

In the embodiment shown in figure 2, each user module forms an independent system within which the game takes place. Since all user modules form part of the same game with the same rules, all user modules together form a collective within which the users can participate in the game. No central unit is required for controlling the game. The positions of other user modules may be determined in various manners. It is possible for each module to determine its own position and to pass this on to the other modules. It is alternatively possible for the positions of other user modules to be determined in each and every user module. Another option is a master-slave configuration in which one or more user modules (the masters) perform the position determination on behalf of the remaining user modules (the slaves) and pass the relevant position data on to the slaves.

The size of the playing field 35 may be determined, should this be of importance, by the position determination means 45 on the basis of a fixed reference (not shown) incorporated in the system. This fixed reference may be formed, for example, by the (optional) home or target location shown in figure 1 , or it may be an alternative fixed point of reference such as, for example, a point of reference specially designed for the purpose, or, for example, the antenna of a transmitter/receiver station of a mobile telecommunication network. Fixed points of reference are not required for game activities that have no particular delineated field of play, such as tag, in which case it is merely important that the position determination means 45 of each of the user modules are capable of determining the positions of their own positions and of those of the other user modules.

As an alternative to the embodiment shown in figure 2, it is also possible that only one or a few of the user modules taking part in the game activity is or are provided with the position determination means 45 and that the positions of the other participating user modules are passed on among all of them. It is furthermore possible, in a hybrid version of the embodiments of figure 1 and figure 2, to provide a user module that is more advanced than the other user modules in the system, said advanced user module then acting as the central processing unit.

Each of the user modules comprises indication means 50, for example constructed as a lighting unit, for drawing the game participants' attention to the occurrence of certain situations in the game. In the example shown in figure 2, for example, the participant wearing user module 42 is informed by indication means 51 of an event that is relevant to this participant.

Figure 3 diagrammatically depicts an example of a user module formed by a wrist band 54 that can be fitted around the participant's arm 53. The wrist band 54 comprises indication means 55, for example a loudspeaker, a lighting unit, or a vibrating alarm, and is further provided with a module 57 in which the processing means and the position determination means may be present. The module 57 is connected to an antenna 56 for communication with other user modules and/or the central processing unit.

The game system according to the invention provides a computer-controlled environment with which group games can be played is small and large spaces (sports halls) or in the outer air. It provides the attractive features and versatility of a games computer in combination with the advantages of game activities that take place over larger playing areas and fields. This makes it more attractive to join in group games and similar activities and thereby stimulates physical activity. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the system is obviously not limited to the playing of games, but that it may equally well be applied to sports training sessions, rehabilitation, educational projects, etc.

In the above, the position determination means and the communication means were mentioned separately for a better understanding of the invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that these functional units may be integrated into a single unit or may be provided as separate stand-alone items. Ultra Wide Band communication may render both (data) communication and position determination possible via a single system. Alternatively, however, a separate communication unit may be provided and, for example, a GPS (or other) module.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the embodiments described above and shown in the figures may be constructed differently or may be modified, for example in dependence on the specific situation in which they are used. Such differences or modifications are possible without departing from the scope of protection of the invention as set out in the ensuing claims.

Claims

1. A system for providing a game activity to at least one user, comprising at least one user module that can be worn by the at least one user, processing means, and position determination means for determining a position of the at least one user module, wherein the system is designed for passing on the position of the at least one user module to the processing means, and further comprising memory means for storing game management information and designed for providing said game management information to the processing means, wherein the processing means are designed for controlling the game activity through the provision of control commands to the at least one user module on the basis of the game management information and the position of the at least one user module, and wherein the at least one user module is designed for providing indication signals to the at least one user in dependence on the control commands.

2. A system according to claim 1 , further comprising communication means for enabling communication between the processing means and the at least one user module.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein the communication means comprise wireless communication means.

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein the communication means are chosen from a group comprising ultra wide band (UWB) based communication systems, Bluetooth, and radio communication.

5. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the processing means are incorporated in a central processing device.

6. A system according to claim 5 and at least one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the central processing device is designed for communicating with the at least one user module via the communication means.

7. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the processing means comprise one or more processing units such that at least one leading user module of the at least one user module is provided with at least one of said processing units.

8. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the position determination means comprise one or more position determination units such that at least one position determining user module of the at least one user module is provided with at least one of said position determination units.

9. A system according to claims 7 and 8, wherein a position determining leading user module of the at least one user module is provided with the at least one processing unit and with the at least one position determination unit.

10. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each user module is provided with the processing means, the position determining means, and the memory means, and wherein the position determining means are designed for determining positions of all user modules.

11. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each user module is provided with the processing means, the position determining means, and the memory means, and wherein each user module is further provided with communication means for exchanging position data among the user modules.

12. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the position determining means are designed for providing a position determination on the basis of at least one technology chosen from a group of technologies comprising ultra wide band (UWB), global positioning system (GPS), Galileo, radio navigation, radar navigation, triangulation of signals emitted by the at least one user module, and other positioning and navigation techniques.

13. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the user module is designed for being detachably fastened to a user's body.

14. A system according to claim 13, wherein the user module is chosen from a group comprising a bracelet, a wrist band, a glove, a head band, a harness device such as a shoulder holster, a hip belt, a leg band, a headgear, a set of earphones, a shoe, a pair of trousers, and a waistcoat.

15. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one user module comprises at least one element for providing the indication signals, which element is chosen from a group comprising lighting means for providing light signals of one or more colours, sound generating means for providing acoustic signals, means for generating tactile signals such as vibration units or units for exerting forces on the body of the at least one user, and display means for presenting information to the at least one user.

16. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the memory means comprise at least one element chosen from a group comprising plug-in modules that can be functionally connected to the processing means, such as a memory card, a memory module designed for wireless communication, a memory fixedly connected to the processing means, and magnetic or optical memory means such as a compact disc or diskette.

17. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising display means for presenting information on the state of the game to the user.

18. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising input means with which the user can provide user input relating to the game activity to the system.

19. A user module for use in a system according to any one of the preceding claims 1 - 18.

20. A central processing device for use in a system according to any one of the preceding claims 1 - 18 in as far as dependent on at least one of claims 5 and 6.

21. A method of providing a game activity to at least one user by means of a system according to one of the preceding claims, said system comprising at least one user module that can be worn by the at least one user, processing means, memory means for storing game management information, and position determination means, said method comprising the steps of: determining a position of the at least one user module using the position determination means; passing on the position of the at least one user module to the processing means; providing the game management information to the processing means; controlling the game activity through the provision by the processing means of control commands to the at least one user module in dependence on the game management information and in dependence on the position of the at least one user module; and providing indication signals to the at least one user by means of the at least one user module in dependence on the control commands.

22. A computer programme product for implementing a method according to claim 20 by means of a system according to any one of claims 1 to 19.