Dual-range wireless interactive entertainment device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9579568-B2
Application number	US-201514858319-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 18, 2015
Priority date	Feb 22, 2000
Publication date	Feb 28, 2017
Grant date	Feb 28, 2017

Abstract

A method of interactive game play is provided wherein a seemingly magical wand toy is provided for enabling a trained user to electronically send and receive information to and from other wand toys, a master system and/or to actuate various play effects within a play environment. The toy wand or other seemingly magical object is configured to use a send/received radio frequency communications protocol which provides a basic foundation for a complex, interactive entertainment system to create a seemingly magical interactive play experience.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A wireless tracking and actuation device configured to actuate one or more entertainment effects as part of a trackable interactive entertainment experience carried out within a wireless-compatible play environment, said wireless tracking and actuation device comprising:
a portable body configured to be transported, moved or positioned by a participant within a wireless-compatible entertainment facility to selectively actuate said one or more entertainment effects, said portable body comprising an internal cavity configured to accommodate one or more internal radiofrequency (RF) communication devices and associated electronic circuitry configured to operate said wireless tracking and actuation device;
a first memory device comprising non-volatile memory storing a first selection of information comprising a unique identifier that uniquely identifies said wireless tracking and actuation device as a trackable object within said wireless-compatible entertainment facility;
a first RF transceiver electrically coupled with said first memory device and configured to provide first two-way wireless communications with a first wireless-compatible device communicatively associated with said one or more entertainment effects over a first limited wireless communication range greater than 10 feet and less than 100 feet and wherein said first two-way wireless communications comprise at least said unique identifier;
a second memory device comprising non-volatile programmable memory configured to store a second selection of information comprising selected tracking information relevant to said participant or said trackable interactive entertainment experience; and
a second RF transceiver electrically coupled with said second memory device and configured to provide second two-way wireless communications with a second wireless-compatible device communicatively associated with said one or more entertainment effects over a second limited wireless communication range greater than 1 cm and less than 60 cm and wherein said second two-way wireless communications comprise at least said selected tracking information.

2. The wireless tracking and actuation device of claim 1 , wherein the wireless tracking and actuation device is configured to be held in one hand and operated by said participant at least in part by selectively positioning said portable body within said first limited wireless communication range of said first wireless-compatible device or within said second limited wireless communication range of said second wireless-compatible device to wirelessly activate or control corresponding of said one or more entertainment effects.

3. The wireless tracking and actuation device of claim 1 , wherein said portable body comprises a toy wand comprising an elongated housing having a first portion configured to be gripped by said participant and a second portion extending from said first portion and comprising at least said second RF transceiver, and wherein said toy wand is configured to be operated by said participant at least in part by selectively positioning said second portion of said toy wand within said second limited wireless communication range of said second wireless-compatible device to wirelessly activate or control corresponding of said one or more entertainment effects.

4. The wireless tracking and actuation device of claim 1 , wherein said first RF transceiver comprises a battery-powered RF transceiver having a limited wireless communication range between 10 feet and 40 feet.

5. The wireless tracking and actuation device of claim 1 , wherein said second RF transceiver comprises at least one antenna configured to be wirelessly energized through inductive coupling with an external electromagnetic field to thereby power said second RF transceiver.

6. The wireless tracking and actuation device of claim 1 , wherein said second RF transceiver comprises a passive radiofrequency identification (RFID) transponder, and wherein said second wireless-compatible device comprises an RFID reader/writer configured to wirelessly energize and communicate with said RFID transponder through inductive coupling over a limited wireless communication range of less than 25 cm.

7. The wireless tracking and actuation device of claim 1 , wherein said selected tracking information comprises one or more items of information selected from the following group: a tracking identifier uniquely identifying said participant; rank, level or points achieved; tasks completed; attributes of a role-play character played by said participant; and entertainment facilities visited by said participant.

8. A portable gaming device configured to wirelessly actuate one or more entertainment effects as part of an interactive game carried out within a wireless-compatible play environment, said portable gaming device comprising:
a portable body configured to be selectively transported, moved or positioned by a game participant to wirelessly actuate said one or more entertainment effects, said portable body comprising an internal cavity configured to accommodate one or more wireless communication devices and associated electronic circuitry configured to operate said portable gaming device;
a first memory device comprising non-volatile memory storing a first selection of game-relevant information comprising a unique identifier that uniquely identifies said portable gaming device within said interactive game;
a first wireless communication device electrically coupled with said first memory device and configured to wirelessly communicate said first selection of game-relevant information to a first wireless-compatible device communicatively associated with said one or more entertainment effects over a first wireless communication range greater than 10 feet and less than 100 feet;
a second memory device comprising non-volatile programmable memory configured to store a second selection of game-relevant information comprising one or more attributes of a corresponding role-play game character played by said game participant in said interactive game; and
a second wireless communication device comprising a radiofrequency (RF) transceiver electrically coupled with said second memory device and configured to provide two-way wireless communications with a second wireless-compatible device communicatively associated with said one or more entertainment effects over a second wireless communication range greater than 1 cm and less than 60 cm and wherein said two-way wireless communications comprise at least said second selection of game-relevant information.

9. The portable gaming device of claim 8 , wherein the portable gaming device is configured to be held in one hand and operated by said game participant at least in part by selectively positioning said portable body within said first wireless communication range of said first wireless-compatible device or within said second wireless communication range of said second wireless-compatible device to wirelessly activate or control corresponding of said one or more entertainment effects.

10. The portable gaming device of claim 8 , wherein said portable body comprises a toy wand comprising an elongated housing having a first portion configured to be gripped by said game participant and a second portion extending from said first portion and comprising said RF transceiver, and wherein said toy wand is configured to be operated by said game participant at least in part by selectively positioning said second portion of said toy wand within said second wireless communication range of said second wireless-compatible device to wirelessly activate or control corresponding of said one or more entertainment effects.

11. The portable

Assignees

• Mq Gaming Llc

Inventors

• Barney Jonathan A
• Weston Denise Chapman

Classifications

• A63F2009/2489

  by radio transmitters, e.g. using RFID · CPC title

• A63F13/822

  Strategy games; Role-playing games (A63F13/825, A63F13/828 take precedence) · CPC title

• A63F2300/807

  Role playing or strategy games · CPC title

• A63F2300/5533

  using program state or machine event data, e.g. server keeps track of the state of multiple players on in a multiple player game · CPC title

• A63F2300/532

  using secure communication, e.g. by encryption, authentication · CPC title