Amusement devices: games – Including means for processing electronic data – With communication link
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-17
2002-03-05
O'Neill, Michael (Department: 3713)
Amusement devices: games
Including means for processing electronic data
With communication link
C463S046000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06352478
ABSTRACT:
Attached herewith is a microfiche appendix labeled “1 of 2,” “2 of 2,” “1 of 5,” “2 of 5,” “3 of 5,” “4 of 5,” and “5 of 5” comprising of 7 sheet and 557 frames and comprising appendices A-X wherein:
Appendix A is a computer listing of a preferred software implementation of the method of
FIGS. 9A-9N
, together with the method of
FIGS. 8D-8M
;
Appendix B is a computer listing of a preferred software implementation of the method of
FIGS. 8A-8T
;
Appendix C is a computer listing of a preferred software implementation of an example of a computer game for use in the computer
100
of
FIG. 1
;
Appendix D is a computer listing of a preferred software implementation of the method of FIGS.
11
and
FIGS. 12A-12C
;
Appendices E-H, taken together, are computer listings from which a first, DLL-compatible, functions library may be constructed;
Appendices I-O, taken together, are computer listings of a second functions library which may be used to generate a variety of games for any of the computer control systems shown and described herein;
Appendix P is a detailed description of preferred features of and preferred elements of one alternative embodiment of the present invention; and
Appendices Q-X, taken together, are computer listings of another preferred software implementation, alternative to the implementation of Appendices A-O.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for amusement parks and to apparatus and methods for dispensing information and other services.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Amusement parks and other crowd-servicing centers typically comprise a plurality of service-providing nodes which are typically manned by human operators.
Locating badges, worn by mobile units of a system such as by medical personnel in a hospital system, or by mobile medical equipment in a hospital system, are known. The badges enable the location of individual medical personnel to be determined at any given time such that, for example, telephone calls may be directed to a particular person at his current location.
Automatic teller machines are interactive automated points of service which are conventionally associated with a central computer via a wired network.
Magnetic cards are conventionally held by members of an organization, such as employees in a company, and are used to provide a number of functions such as access control to access-limited locations, time-stamping, and recordal of utilization of services such as cafeteria services.
Also well known in the art are toys which are remotely controlled by wireless communication and which are not used in conjunction with a computer system. Typically, such toys include vehicles whose motion is controlled by a human user via a remote control device.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,712,184 to Haugerud describes a computer controlled educational toy, the construction of which teaches the user computer terminology and programming and robotic technology. Haugerud describes computer control of a toy via a wired connection, wherein the user of the computer typically writes a simple program to control movement of a robot.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,840,602 to Rose describes a talking doll responsive to an external signal, in which the doll has a vocabulary stored in digital data in a memory which may be accessed to cause a speech synthesizer in the doll to simulate speech.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,021,878 to Lang describes an animated character system with real-time control.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,142,803 to Lang describes an animated character system with real-time control.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,191,615 to Aldava et al. describes an interrelational audio kinetic entertainment system in which movable and audible toys and other animated devices spaced apart from a television screen are provided with program synchronized audio and control data to interact with the program viewer in relationship to the television program.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,195,920 to Collier describes a radio controlled toy vehicle which generates realistic sound effects on board the vehicle. Communications with a remote computer allows an operator to modify and add new sound effects.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,270,480 to Hikawa describes a toy acting in response to a MIDI signal, wherein an instrument-playing toy performs simulated instrument playing movements.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,289,273 to Lang describes a system for remotely controlling an animated character. The system uses radio signals to transfer audio, video and other control signals to the animated character to provide speech, hearing vision and movement in real-time.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,493 describes a system for a housing for a vertical dual keyboard WIDI wireless controller for accordionists. The system may be used with either a conventional MIDI wire connection or by a wireless MIDI transmission system.
German Patent DE 3009-040 to Neuhierl describes a device for adding the capability transmit sound from a remote control to a controlled model vehicle. The sound is generated by units of a microphone or a tape recorder and transmitted to the controlled model vehicle by means of radio communications. The model vehicle is equipped with a speaker that emits the received sounds.
The disclosures of all publications mentioned in the specification and of the publications cited therein are hereby incorporated by reference.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention seeks to provide improved apparatus and methods for dispensing amusement services, information services and other services to crowds.
There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention amusement park apparatus including a first plurality of entertainment providing nodes playing a second plurality of games with a third plurality of players who are simultaneously playing the second plurality of games, a node controller operative to assign each player from among the third plurality of players to an individual game from among the second plurality of games and operative to control each individual node from among the first plurality of nodes such that when the individual node enters into an interaction with an individual player, the node plays, with the individual player, the game assigned to the individual player and a communication network operative to associate each of the first plurality of nodes with the node controller.
There is also provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention amusement park apparatus including a first plurality of entertainment providing nodes each operative to sequentially participate in any of a second plurality of games being played, a node controller operative to control the first plurality of nodes, and a communication network operative to associate each of the first plurality of nodes with the node controller.
There is additionally provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention amusement park apparatus including a first plurality of entertainment providing nodes, a node controller operative to control the first plurality of nodes to play a second plurality of games such that at least one of the first plurality of nodes participates in each of at least two ongoing ones of the second plurality of games, and a communication network operative to associate each of the first plurality of nodes with the node controller.
Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the node controller is operative to control the first plurality of nodes so as to accommodate a third plurality of players participating in at least two ongoing ones of the second plurality of games.
Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the second plurality of games includes at least one group game in which at least one encounter between an individual player of the group game and one of the first plurality of nodes is affected by at least one previous encounter between at least one other player of the group game and at least one of the first plurality of nodes.
Also provided, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is a
Cohen Moshe
Gabai Jacob
Gabai Oz
Sandlerman Nimrod
Abelman ,Frayne & Schwab
Creator Ltd.
O'Neill Michael
White Carmen D.
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