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US 2014/0151960 A1Published application
Gaming system using gaming surface having computer readable indicia and method of using same
OwnerMichael S. Caffreyinventor
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Abstract
A gaming system is provided having a plurality of playing positions, with each playing position having both a human readable and a machine readable indicia identifying the playing position. The gaming system also includes playing pieces, which also have both human and machine readable indicia. The gaming system uses a smart phone with an optical scanner to facilitate interaction with the gaming surface and pieces.
Claims45
A gaming surface, comprising:
- a plurality of cells acting as playing positions,
- wherein each cell includes a first unique indicia and a second unique indicia,
- and wherein the first unique indicia is human readable and the second unique indicia is machine readable.
A gaming system, comprising:
- a plurality of game pieces, each game piece including a machine readable piece indicia encoding a unique identifier for the game piece, and a human-readable indicia identifying the piece;
- a gaming surface having a plurality of cells adapted to be occupied by a game piece, wherein
- at least some of the plurality of cells include a unique human-readable indicia identifying the cell, and
- a unique machine readable indicia identifying the cell;
- an optical scanner configured to read the machine readable piece indicia and the machine readable cell indicia;
- a processor in communication with the optical scanner configured to facilitate game play, at least, by decoding the machine readable cell indicia to generate data regarding the identity of the cell and decoding the machine readable piece indicia to generate data regarding the identify of the game piece;
- storage in communication with the processor;
- a visual display in communication with the processor, and
- an input device in communication with the processor.
6 more elements
An electronic device for use with a gaming system, the gaming system, comprising:
- a plurality of game pieces, each game piece including a machine readable piece indicia encoding a unique identifier for the game piece, and a human-readable indicia identifying the piece;
- a gaming surface having a plurality of cells adapted to be occupied by a game piece, wherein
- at least some of the plurality of cells include a unique human-readable indicia identifying the cell, and
- a unique machine readable indicia identifying the cell;
- the electronic device comprising:
- an optical scanner configured to read the machine readable piece indicia and the machine readable cell indicia;
- a processor in communication with the optical scanner configured to facilitate game play, at least, by decoding the machine readable cell indicia to generate data regarding the identity of the cell and decoding the machine readable piece indicia to generate data regarding the identify of the game piece;
- storage in communication with the processor;
- a visual display in communication with the processor, and
- an input device in communication with the processor.
7 more elements
The device of claim 35, wherein the processor is further configured to:
- if the location of the cell corresponding to the scanned machine readable cell indicia is different from the beginning of turn position associated with the game piece of the first player, calculating a movement path across the gaming surface from the beginning of turn position of the game piece of the first player toward the location of the cell corresponding to the scanned machine readable cell indicia;
- selecting an end of turn cell on the playing surface representing an end of turn position of the game piece of the first player, and selecting an end of turn facing direction for the game piece of the first player, and
- displaying data on visual display directing the first player to move the game piece of the first player to the selected end of turn cell.
The device of claim 35, wherein the processor is further configured to:
- if the location of the cell corresponding to the scanned machine readable cell indicia is the same as the beginning of turn position associated with the game piece of the first player,
- prompt the first payer to take some action changing a state of the game piece of the first player with respect to the cell corresponding to the scanned machine readable cell indicia.
A method of gameplay using a plurality of game pieces, each playing piece including a machine readable piece indicia encoding a unique identifier for the playing piece, and
- a gaming surface having a plurality of cells adapted to be occupied by a playing piece, wherein
- at least some of the plurality of cells include a unique human readable indicia identifying the cell, and
- a unique machine readable cell indicia identifying the cell, the method comprising:
- scanning a machine readable cell indicia with an optical scanner in communication with a processor;
- reading information from an information display in communication with the processor;
- and
- moving a game piece in accordance with the read information.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.