Electronic dice

Details Electronic dice Electronic dice

2000-02-28

2001-12-18

O'Neill, Michael (Department: 3713)

Amusement devices: games

Including means for processing electronic data

In a chance application

C273S146000, C273S138200

Reexamination Certificate

active

06331145

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to computer and board games in general and in particular to such games using one or more dice.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is very well known to use one or more dice in games, such as backgammon and especially in board games such as ‘snakes and ladders’ and ‘monopoly’. In recent years, many of these games have been adapted for use with the computer. In the computer version of these games, the computer acts as the dice thrower and effectively takes control of that particular aspect of the game. In other words the player of the game presses a button, a key, or his mouse in order to intiate the action of the dice throwing. The player, who does not have any physical control over the action of the dice, is prevented from determining the outcome of the dice throw. Consequently, the computer versions of games are less exciting since they lack an important element of the game, the ‘feel’ and control over the dice throw.
Dice are also an integral part of certain gambling games such as craps, where the throwing of the dice and the resulting fall of the dice are the critically important constituents of the game.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a computerized system for games and other software applications using dice which overcomes the disadvantages of prior systems.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an electronic dice which allows the player to control the action of the dice while the result of the throw is communicated to a computer or other electronic device. The electronic device can include a device which converts the transmitted result to an audio output for indicating the result. The audio output is especally useful for blind persons. The device can also be used with games and “video-type” games played on a television.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a device, which can be used as a means to prevent software piracy.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a device, which can be used as an integral component of one or more software applications.
There is thus provided, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an object having n faces, includes wireless transmitting means for transmitting the value of at least the face of the object lying on a surface.
Additionally, there is provided, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an object having n faces, includes at least n−1 sensors, each of n−1 faces of the object having one of the n−1 sensors installed therein, controller coupled to each of the n−1 sensors and a wireless transmitter device coupled to the controller for transmitting data from each of the n−1 sensors.
Additionally, there is also provided, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an object having n faces, includes at least n−1 transponders, each of n−1 faces of the object having one of the at least n−1 transponders installed therein for transmitting data from each of the n−1 faces.
In addition, there is also provided, in accorance wnth a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a system for communicating with an object The system includes at least one transponder installed in the object, for transmitting data from the object, a read/write unit for receiving the transmitted data, and a processing unit coupled to the read/write unit, for processing the data.
The controller includes one of a group of devices including a register, processor, buffer, control logic and micro-controller. The wireless transmitter device includes one of a group of devices including an infra-red, transmitter and a RF transmitter, ultra sonic.
Furthermore, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the read/write unit includes a base station transceiver hating an antenna attached thereto, a microcontroller coupled to the base station transceiver.
Furthermore, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the processing unit is coupled to the read/write unit by any of the following group including serial RS232, parallel, USB (Universal serial Bus) and SCSI (small computer system interface) or keyboard interface.
In addition, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the system according further includes a surface for throwing the object thereon. The surface includes sealing means used with a dice having optical sensors to prevent light from reaching the face of the object in contact with the surface. The surface may be composed of a metallic material used wth a dice having a transponder.
Furthermore, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the system also can include a CCD (charge coupled camera) for imaging at least one face of the object.
Furthermore, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the transponder includes a radio frequency (RF) transceiver, electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) storage means coupled to the radio frequency transceiver, and an a controller, The controller is connected to the memory means and the RF transceiver. The EEPROM storage means includes an ID code and/or encrypted data stored therein.
Altnatively the transponder includes radio frequency (RF) transceiver and electrically erasable programnable read-only memory (EEPROM) storage means coupled to a micro-controller.
In addition, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the object includes an input register coupled to the RF transceiver for latching the signals being transmitted by each of the at least n−1 sensors at predetermined intervals.
The electrical components of the objects receive their operating energy from either a remote read/write unit, solar cells, drycell batteries, or photo-voltaic cells coupled thereto. The sensors include photodiode, photo-transistor sensors, capacitance sensor or induction coil and mechanical sensors.
In addition, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is also provided a software piracy protection system which includes at least one object, having an ID code encrypted therein and including a transponder, and a read/write unit for vernfying the authenticity of the encrypted ID code for each of the at least one object.
Furthermore, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the object includes additional ID codes encrypted in the transponder, each of the ID codes being related to a separate software application. Altematively, the object includes a single ID code which is related to a specific software application.
In addition, in accordance wfth a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is also provided apparatus for use with a software driven application. The apparatus includes at least one object, having an ID code encrypted therein and including a wireless transceiver, and a software application for verifying the authenticity of the encrypted ID code of the object in order to run a software application. Furthernore, the object may be an integral component of the software application.
In addition, a method for indicating the value of the uppermost face of an n-sided object laying on a surface is provided. The method includes the steps of:
the object transmitting data from at least the uppermost or lowermost face of the object; and
processing the data.
The object includes an ID code encrypted therein and a wireless transceiver and further includes the step of the transceiver transmitting a coded identification signal to the object to decrypt the encrypted ID code.
Finally, a method for indicating the value of an object thrown onto a playing surface is provided, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The object includes an ID code encrypted therein and a wireless transceiver. The method includes the steps of;
a) the object transmitting the value of at least n−1 of its faces;
b) a re

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