Amusement devices: games – Puzzles – Take-aparts and put-togethers
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-29
2001-07-24
Martin-Wallace, Valencia (Department: 3713)
Amusement devices: games
Puzzles
Take-aparts and put-togethers
C273S15300J, C463S009000, C463S031000, C463S035000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06264198
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to jigsaw puzzles in general, and in particular to moving video jigsaw puzzles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Traditional jigsaw puzzles made of paper and other durable materials have entertained puzzle players for decades. However, with the advent of personal computers, computer-generated jigsaw puzzles have also become popular.
In computer-generated jigsaw puzzles, a puzzle picture is electronically broken up into puzzle pieces and the puzzle pieces are scattered across an electronic viewing display. A player then manipulates the pieces on the display using a mouse, keyboard, joystick or other similar device to pick-up, rotate, reposition and connect puzzle pieces together until the puzzle picture is unscrambled.
Existing computer-generated jigsaw puzzle pictures include non-moving images, similar to puzzle pictures made of durable material, and moving images in which each puzzle piece includes a portion of the moving image. This change from still to animated or moving images increases the difficulty of the game.
One such computer-generated, moving jigsaw puzzle game is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,643,084. The Mirsky patent discloses a method for generating a moving image jigsaw puzzle game on an electronic display and controlling the play of the game in response to play operations. In particular, the Mirsky patent discloses how puzzle pieces are repositioned from one location to another on the visual display.
Such computer-generated moving image jigsaw puzzle games are often quite difficult for many players, especially young children and new players. Therefore, a need exists for a computer-generated moving image jigsaw puzzle game which enhances interaction and excitement for all game players by providing various levels of difficulty and by providing assistance to select game players in solving the moving image jigsaw puzzles.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a program for a moving video image jigsaw puzzle game that provides assistance to game players in solving a moving video image jigsaw puzzle. The moving video puzzle program assists the game players in solving the moving video jigsaw puzzle game by providing a variety of features which may be used either alone or in any combination with one another. First, the moving image puzzle program generates a representative version of a moving video image that is to be solved by a game player. Then, the moving puzzle program displays the moving representative image on a display together with puzzle pieces, each of which represents a portion of the full-color moving video image. The moving representative image is used by the player to provide guidance in reassembling the puzzle pieces to create the original moving video image. The game player may either use the moving representative image as merely a reference in solving the puzzle or may position puzzle pieces on top of the moving representative image until each of the puzzle pieces has been properly repositioned and the full color moving video image has been recreated on top of the moving representative image.
In accordance with other aspects of this invention, the moving puzzle program may take control of the movement of a puzzle piece from a player and place it in exactly the correct location once the player has repositioned this puzzle piece within a predetermined marginal location from the correct location. In addition, the predetermined marginal location can vary depending upon a difficulty level, typically chosen by a player at the start of a game. For example, an “easy”difficult level may provide for a wide margin in which the player must position a puzzle piece before the program finishes placement of the puzzle piece in its correct location.
In accordance with alternate aspects of this invention, the moving puzzle program also provides for the locking of puzzle pieces into position once the puzzle pieces have been properly repositioned by the game player using an input device. The puzzle pieces may be locked into position either within a frame that is used to recreate the moving video image or on top of the moving representative image. The moving puzzle program identifies the puzzle piece selected by the player and then determines whether the position to which the player moved the puzzle piece is the correct location. If the puzzle piece is in its correct location, the moving puzzle program locks it into this position so that it cannot be moved again by the player.
In accordance with further aspects of this invention, the moving puzzle program automatically repositions a puzzle piece into its proper location or identifies the proper location upon receiving a signal from the game player for assistance in solving the puzzle or upon the occurrence of a predetermine event or elapsed time period. The signal for help by the game player may be provided, for example, by clicking on a “reposition puzzle piece” button provided on the display by the moving puzzle program or other software running on the system. Once any such signal is received, either the moving puzzle program or the player selects a puzzle piece, and then the moving puzzle program automatically moves the selected puzzle piece into its proper location on the display without specific input from the player regarding where the puzzle piece should be repositioned. Alternatively, instead of automatically repositioning the puzzle piece, the moving puzzle program identifies the correct location of a puzzle piece by, for example, highlighting the area into which the currently selected puzzle piece fits.
In accordance with still further aspects of this invention, the moving puzzle program changes the grid size of the moving video image to be solved upon receiving a signal identifying a particular grid size selected by a game player. Any number of buttons may be provided to the player by the moving puzzle program or other software running on the system for making such a selection. Alternatively, the moving puzzle program can change the grid size based upon the difficulty level of the game, typically chosen by a player before commencing the game. In either scenario, the grid can be of regular or irregular shape.
In accordance with yet other further aspects of this invention, the moving puzzle program generates an audio signal for a puzzle piece upon selection of the puzzle piece by the game player. This audio signal provides a clue regarding the proper repositioning of the puzzle piece. The moving puzzle program first identifies the particular puzzle piece selected by the player. Then, the moving puzzle program determines whether the particular puzzle piece has an audio signal associated therewith. If the puzzle piece indeed has an associated audio signal, the moving puzzle program uses a sound generation unit to play the audio signal to the player to provide the player with a clue as to the proper repositioning of the puzzle piece.
A method and a system capable of performing actions generally consistent with any one or combination of the features of the moving puzzle program described above represent yet still further aspects of this invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5296845 (1994-03-01), Haller
patent: 5465982 (1995-11-01), Rebane
patent: 5556339 (1996-09-01), Cohen
patent: 5577185 (1996-11-01), Tunnell et al.
patent: 5605332 (1997-02-01), Harnett
patent: 5630754 (1997-05-01), Rebane
patent: 5643084 (1997-07-01), Mirsky
patent: 5810356 (1998-09-01), Green
patent: 5944605 (1999-08-01), Pajitnov
“VidGrid,”The Rock Video Moving Puzzle Game, CD game box.
“Kid VidGrid,”Cartoon Moving Puzzle Game, CD game box.
Christensen O'Connor Johnson & Kindness PLLC
Martin-Wallace Valencia
Rare Limited
White Carmen D.
LandOfFree
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