Block, block system, information processing apparatus, display method, and information processing method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10293268-B2
Application number	US-201415102550-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 19, 2014
Priority date	Dec 26, 2013
Publication date	May 21, 2019
Grant date	May 21, 2019

Abstract

A block system 1 includes a block 102 and a host terminal 10. The block 102, configured such that two or more blocks are connectable with each other, includes a power supply mechanism 110 for supplying power to the block 102, a communication mechanism 114 for establishing connection with the host terminal 10 to transmit and receive various signals, a storage mechanism 112 for storing identification information related with the block 102, a display mechanism 118 for emitting light and displaying an image under the control of the host terminal 10, and a control mechanism 116 for executing programmed processing in accordance with a signal from the host terminal 10.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A block system comprising:
a host unit; and
a plurality of blocks, wherein each block comprises:
a wireless communication unit for communicating wirelessly with the host unit; and
a wired communication unit for direct communicating via a wired connection with at least a first block from the plurality of blocks;
a storage unit for storing a unique individual ID; and
a display unit;

wherein the host unit further comprises:
a registration information storage unit for storing the unique individual ID of each of the plurality of blocks in association with a user ID; and
a display information transmission unit for communicating with the wireless communication unit of each of the plurality of blocks;
wherein, when the host unit transitions from a building mode to a tidying-up mode, the display information transmission unit transmits, to a first subset of blocks from the plurality of blocks associated with a first user ID in the registration information storage unit, instructions to the first subset of blocks to cause the display units of the first subset of blocks to display a first color, and
wherein, during the tidying-up mode, the display information transmission unit transmits, to a second subset of blocks from the plurality of blocks associated with a second user ID in the registration information storage unit, instructions to the second subset of blocks to cause the display units of the second subset of blocks to display a second color different than the first color.

2. The block system according to claim 1 , wherein the display information transmission unit communicates with the wireless communication unit of each of the plurality of blocks using short distance wireless communication.

3. The block system according to claim 1 , wherein a first user associated with the first user ID can change the first color using an input device of the host unit.

4. The block system according to claim 1 , wherein the storage unit of each block further stores the unique individual ID of any block directly coupled to the wired communication unit of each block during the building mode.

5. The method of assembling a plurality of block to form a solid object in a block building mode, the method comprising:
reading, using a host unit, assembly instructions for the solid object from a memory; and
for each instruction step in the assembly instructions:
a) causing a block from the plurality of blocks identified in the instruction step to emit light in a predefined color;
b) displaying, on a display of the host unit, display information depicting how the block is to be connected to another block from the plurality of blocks;
c) transmitting, from a communication unit of the block, connection information indicating that the block has been connected to the another block; and
d) causing, by the host unit, the block to stop emitting light in the predefined color upon a determination that the connection information is correct,

wherein a)-d) are repeated until each instruction step in the assembly instructions has been executed to assemble the solid object from the plurality of blocks.

6. The method according to claim 5 , further comprising:
after the solid object has been assembled, transitioning the host unit from the block building mode to a tidying-up mode,
wherein, during the tidying-up mode, the host unit:
e) reads, from a memory, a user ID associated with each block from the plurality of blocks; and
f) causes each block to emit a color based on the user ID associated with each block,

wherein a first color associated with a first user ID is different than a second color based on a second user ID.

7. The method according to claim 5 ,
wherein the display information is an depicting how the block is to be connected to another block from the plurality of blocks.

8. The method according to claim 5 , wherein if it is determined that the connection information is incorrect, the display of the host unit displays a warning indicating that the connection information is incorrect, a determination that the connection information is correct.

9. The method according to claim 5 , further comprising:
e) displaying, using the display of the host unit, an updated image of a partially assembled object in accordance with the received connection information.

10. The method according to claim 5 , further comprising:
after assembly of the solid object, allowing a user to set, using the host unit, a display color for each of the plurality of blocks forming the solid object; and
storing the display color for each of the plurality of blocks in association with the assembly.

Assignees

• Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc

Inventors

• Hirata Shinichi
• Yamagishi Takeshi
• Osawa Hiroshi
• Togawa Keiji
• Numaguchi Naoki

Classifications

• A63H33/086

  with primary projections fitting by friction in complementary spaces between secondary projections, e.g. sidewalls · CPC title

• A63F13/327

  using wireless networks, e.g. Wi-Fi® or piconet · CPC title

• A63F13/98

  Accessories, i.e. detachable arrangements optional for the use of the video game device, e.g. grip supports of game controllers · CPC title

• A63H33/042 Primary

  Mechanical, electrical, optical, pneumatic or hydraulic arrangements; Motors · CPC title

• A63F13/25

  Output arrangements for video game devices · CPC title