Game medium identification system, computer program and control method thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12070697-B2
Application number	US-202017008743-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 1, 2020
Priority date	Mar 15, 2018
Publication date	Aug 27, 2024
Grant date	Aug 27, 2024

Abstract

A game medium identification system applied to a game in which each of physical game media, that includes an appearance element characterizing appearance, is used in combination with an additional thing, and identifying the game media, the game medium identification system includes: an information medium provided on the additional thing and holding identification information; a medium image identification device identifying the game medium based on an image of the game medium; an association setting device associating an identification result by the medium image identification device with an identification information of the information medium in accordance with correspondence relationship between one game medium and the additional thing to be used in the game in combination with the one game medium; and a medium identification device detecting the identification information from the information medium and identifying the game medium based on the identification information and association set by the association setting device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A game medium identification system applied to a game in which each of a plurality of physical game media, that includes an appearance element characterizing appearance, is used in combination with a predetermined additional thing for each game medium, and distinguishing and identifying the plurality of game media from each other, the game medium identification system comprising:
an information medium provided on the additional thing and capable of holding predetermined identification information;
a computer analyzing an image of the game medium captured by a predetermined image-capturing device;
the computer identifying a type of the game medium based on the appearance element included in the image;
the computer associating an identification result by the computer with an identification information of the information medium in accordance with correspondence relationship between one game medium and the additional thing to be used in the game in combination with the one game medium;
the computer detecting the identification information from the information medium of the additional thing which is combined with the game medium being used in the game through a predetermined information detection device and identifying the game medium based on the obtained identification information and association set by the computer; and
the computer recording association information in which the identification information is associated with the identification results so as to be capable of determining a relationship between the association information and a game medium group comprising a plurality of game media.

2. The game medium identification system according to claim 1 , wherein an individual identification information unique for each of the information media is recorded in the information medium as the identification information,
the computer records the association information to associate the individual identification information read by a predetermined information reading device from the information medium with the identification result by the computer, and
the computer identifies the game medium based on the individual identification information detected from the information medium through the information detection device and the association information.

3. The game medium identification system according to claim 1 , wherein the information medium is provided as a storage medium capable of writing and reading information, and
the computer associates the identification result by the computer with the identification information of the information medium by writing the medium identification information corresponding to the identification result by the image identification device into the information medium as the identification information through a predetermined information writing device.

4. The game medium identification system according to claim 1 , wherein the information detection device is provided in a field where the game medium is used in the game so that the identification information can be detected from the information medium of the game medium placed in the field, and the computer identifies the game medium based on the identification information detected by the information detection device and the association set by the computer.

5. The game medium identification system according to claim 4 , wherein, in the field, a plurality of detection devices that respectively function as the information detection device are arranged, and
the computer also identifies a position where the game medium is placed based on detection status of the identification information in each of the plurality of detection devices.

6. The game medium identification system according to claim 4 , wherein the information detection device is provided on a placed object which has portability and can be carried in and out with respect to the field.

7. The game medium identification system according to claim 1 , wherein, when a plurality of game media include a plurality of appearance common media in which the appearance elements are common, the computer associates the identification result by the computer with the identification information of the information medium such that the appearance common media can be distinguished from each other.

8. The game medium identification system according to claim 1 , wherein the game medium is card-shaped and the additional thing is provided such that the additional thing is combined on at least one surface of the game medium.

9. The game medium identification system according to claim 1 , wherein the additional thing is in the form of a sleeve into which the game medium can be inserted.

10. The game medium identification system according to claim 8 , wherein the appearance element is provided on one surface of the game medium, and appearance of another surface is shared between a plurality of game media so that the plurality of game media is indistinguishable.

11. A non-transitory computer readable recording medium which has a computer program for use with a game medium identification system applied to a game in which each of a plurality of physical game media, that includes an appearance element characterizing appearance, is used in combination with a predetermined additional thing for each game medium, and distinguishing and identifying the plurality of game media from each other, the computer program is configured to cause a computer to analyze an image of the game medium captured by a predetermined image-capturing device;
to identify a type of the game medium based on the appearance element included in the image;
to associate an identification result by the computer with an identification information held in an information medium provided on the additional thing in accordance with correspondence relationship between one game medium and the additional thing to be used in the game in combination with the one game medium;
to detect the identification information from the information medium of the additional thing which is combined with the game medium being used in the game through a predetermined information detection device and identifying the game medium based on the obtained identification information and association set by the computer; and
to record association information in which the identification information is associated with the identification result to as to be capable of determining a relationship between the association information and a game medium group comprising a plurality of game media.

12. A control method for use with a game medium identification system applied to a game in which each of a plurality of physical game media, that includes an appearance element characterizing appearance, is used in combination with a predetermined additional thing for each game medium, and distinguishing and identifying the plurality of game media from each other, the control method comprising:
analyzing an image of the game medium captured by a predetermined image-capturing device;
identifying a type of the game medium based on the appearance element included in the image;
setting association between an identification result of the game medium and identification information held in an information medium provided on the additional thing in accordance with correspondence relationship between one game medium and the additional thing to be used in the game in combination with the one game medium;
detecting the identification information from the information medium of the additional thing which is combined with the game medium being used in the game through a predetermined information detection device;
identifying the game medium based on the

Assignees

• Konami Digital Entertainment Co Ltd

Inventors

• Fujimoto Yutaka
• KIHARA Naoya
• Okuta Masafumi
• Yoshida Takahiro
• Horikiri Michio

Classifications

• A63F13/95

  Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges · CPC title

• A63F13/30

  Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers · CPC title

• A63F13/213

  comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells (A63F13/219 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A63F13/20

  Input arrangements for video game devices · CPC title

• A63F2250/287

  Cameras therefor · CPC title