# US 2014/0151960 A1 · Gaming system using gaming surface having computer readable indicia and method of using same

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- Number: US 2014/0151960 A1
- Document ID: US20140151960A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/691,662
- Filed: 2012-11-30
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2012-11-30
- Inventors: Michael S. Caffrey
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140151960A1

## CPC

- A63F 3/00643: {Electric board games; Electric features of board games (electric word or number games A63F3/0421; computer chess G06F; electric raffle games A63F3/081)}
- A63F 13/213: comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells (A63F13/219 takes precedence)
- A63F 13/92: Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
- A63F 3/00: Board games; Raffle games
- A63F 2003/00482: {Hexagonal}
- A63F 2009/241: {Touch screen}
- A63F 2009/2419: {Optical}
- A63F 2009/242: {Bar codes}
- A63F 2009/246: {Computer generated or synthesized image}
- A63F 2300/1093: using visible light
- A63F 2300/6045: for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands
- A63F: CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## 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.

## Claims

### Claim 1

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.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The gaming surface of claim 1, wherein the first and second unique indicia correspond to a position of a cell.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The gaming surface of claim 1, wherein the cells are contiguous.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The gaming surface of claim 1, wherein the cells are arranged in rows and columns, and wherein the first unique indicia is writing indicating a row and column address of the cell.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The gaming surface of claim 1, wherein the second unique indicia is a machine readable barcode.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The gaming surface of claim 5, wherein the barcode is a linear or matrix barcode.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The gaming surface of claim 1, wherein the cells are polygonal, with each cell being defined by a plurality of edges forming a perimeter around the cell, and wherein at least one edge of a cell includes a third indicia.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The gaming surface of claim 7, wherein the third indicia includes a color, and wherein, for a given cell, the third of indicia of each edge is a unique color.

### Claim 9

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.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The gaming system of claim 9, wherein at least some of the plurality of cells include a plurality of perimeter indicia arranged around the perimeter of the cell.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein, said storage includes information defining at least one attribute for at least some cells and at least one attribute for each of the game pieces.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein, the at least one attribute for at least some cells includes a cell position.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one attribute for each of the game pieces includes a game piece position.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to facilitate gameplay interaction between a first game piece and a second game piece, by:
causing the display to display information notifying a first player to take some action;
receiving data related to a scan of machine readable piece indicia related to the second game piece from the optical scanner;
changing an attribute associated with the first game piece in storage, and
changing an attribute associated with the second game piece in storage.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein, said storage includes a beginning of turn state associated with each of the plurality of game pieces.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, wherein the beginning of turn state includes:
a beginning of turn position associated with each of the plurality of game pieces,
a beginning of turn facing direction associated with each of the plurality of game pieces, and
a movement allowance associated with each of the plurality of game pieces.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The system of claim 16, wherein the processor is further configured to facilitate gameplay between a game piece of a first player and a cell by:
causing the display to display information notifying a first player to take some action;
retrieving the beginning of turn position and facing direction associated with a game piece of the first player from storage;
receiving data related to a scan of machine readable cell indicia from the optical scanner;
identifying the cell corresponding to the scanned machine readable cell indicia;
retrieving the location of the cell corresponding to the scanned machine readable cell indicia, and
comparing the location of the cell corresponding to the scanned machine readable cell indicia to the beginning of turn position associated with the game piece of the first player.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The system of claim 17, 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.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The system of claim 18, wherein 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 is done by the processor on the basis of:
the calculated movement path,
the beginning of turn position associated with the game piece of the first player,
the beginning of turn facing direction associated with the game piece of the first player,
a movement allowance associated with the game piece of the first player, and
additional attributes associated with cells along the movement path.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The system of claim 19, wherein the processor is further configured to:
if, after the processor has selected an end of turn cell on the playing surface representing an end of turn position of the game piece of the first player, the game piece of the first player has not exhausted its movement allowance, display to the first player a representation of the end of turn cell and prompt the first player to select an end of turn facing position for the game piece.

### Claim 21 (depends on 17)

The system of claim 17, 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.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The system of claim 21, wherein prompting the first payer to take some action changing a state of a game piece of the first player with respect to the cell corresponding to the scanned machine readable cell indicia includes:
displaying to the first player a representation of the cell corresponding to the scanned machine readable cell indicia,
receiving from the first player input indicating a new facing direction for the game piece of the first player
selecting an end of turn facing position for the game piece of the first player on the basis of the first player's input and the movement allowance, and
displaying to the first player directions to change the facing direction for the game piece of the first player.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The system of claim 22, wherein the visual display and the input device are provided by a touch-sensitive display,
wherein displaying to the first player a representation of the cell corresponding to the scanned machine readable cell indicia includes displaying an image of the cell including a plurality perimeter indicia arranged around the perimeter of the cell, with each perimeter indicia representing a permissible game piece facing direction, and
wherein receiving from the first player input indicating a new facing direction for the game piece of the first player includes receiving from the touch-sensitive display input resulting from the first player touching one of the perimeter indicia.

### Claim 24 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to facilitate gameplay by,
causing the display to display information notifying a first player to take some action;
retrieving the beginning of turn state associated with the game piece of the first player;
receiving data related to a scan of machine readable indicia encoding a unique identifier for the game piece of the first player.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The system of claim 24, wherein the processor is further configured to:
display to the first player data related to the beginning of turn state associated with the game piece of the first player.

### Claim 26 (depends on 24)

The system of claim 24, wherein the processor is further configured to:
prompt the first player for input regarding a desired change of state for the game piece of the first player;
receive input from the first player regarding a change of state for the game piece of the first player; and
store data regarding an end of turn state associated with the game piece of the first player.

### Claim 27

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.

### Claim 28 (depends on 27)

The device system of claim 27, wherein at least some of the plurality of cells include a plurality of perimeter indicia arranged around the perimeter of the cell.

### Claim 29 (depends on 27)

The device of claim 27, wherein, said storage includes information defining at least one attribute for at least some cells and at least one attribute for each of the game pieces.

### Claim 30 (depends on 29)

The device of claim 29, wherein, the at least one attribute for at least some cells includes a cell position.

### Claim 31 (depends on 29)

The device of claim 29, wherein the at least one attribute for each of the game pieces includes a game piece position.

### Claim 32 (depends on 29)

The device of claim 29, wherein the processor is further configured to facilitate gameplay interaction between a first game piece and a second game piece, by:
causing the display to display information notifying a first player to take some action;
receiving data related to a scan of machine readable piece indicia related to the second game piece from the optical scanner;
changing an attribute associated with the first game piece in storage, and
changing an attribute associated with the second game piece in storage.

### Claim 33 (depends on 27)

The device of claim 27, wherein, said storage includes a beginning of turn state associated with each of the plurality of game pieces.

### Claim 34 (depends on 33)

The device of claim 33, wherein the beginning of turn state includes:
a beginning of turn position associated with each of the plurality of game pieces,
a beginning of turn facing direction associated with each of the plurality of game pieces, and
a movement allowance associated with each of the plurality of game pieces.

### Claim 36 (depends on 34)

The device of claim 34, wherein the processor is further configured to facilitate gameplay between a game piece of a first player and a cell by:
causing the display to display information notifying a first player to take some action;
retrieving the beginning of turn position and facing direction associated with a game piece of the first player from storage;
receiving data related to a scan of machine readable cell indicia from the optical scanner;
identifying the cell corresponding to the scanned machine readable cell indicia;
retrieving the location of the cell corresponding to the scanned machine readable cell indicia, and
comparing the location of the cell corresponding to the scanned machine readable cell indicia to the beginning of turn position associated with the game piece of the first player.

### Claim 36 (depends on 35)

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.

### Claim 37 (depends on 36)

The device of claim 36, wherein 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 is done by the processor on the basis of:
the calculated movement path,
the beginning of turn position associated with the game piece of the first player,
the beginning of turn facing direction associated with the game piece of the first player,
a movement allowance associated with the game piece of the first player, and
additional attributes associated with cells along the movement path.

### Claim 38 (depends on 37)

The device of claim 37, wherein the processor is further configured to:
if, after the processor has selected an end of turn cell on the playing surface representing an end of turn position of the game piece of the first player, the game piece of the first player has not exhausted its movement allowance, display to the first player a representation of the end of turn cell and prompt the first player to select an end of turn facing position for the game piece.

### Claim 39 (depends on 35)

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.

### Claim 40 (depends on 39)

The device of claim 39, wherein prompting the first payer to take some action changing a state of a game piece of the first player with respect to the cell corresponding to the scanned machine readable cell indicia includes:
displaying to the first player a representation of the cell corresponding to the scanned machine readable cell indicia,
receiving from the first player input indicating a new facing direction for the game piece of the first player
selecting an end of turn facing position for the game piece of the first player on the basis of the first player's input and the movement allowance, and
displaying to the first player directions to change the facing direction for the game piece of the first player.

### Claim 41 (depends on 40)

The device of claim 40, wherein the visual display and the input device are provided by a touch-sensitive display,
wherein displaying to the first player a representation of the cell corresponding to the scanned machine readable cell indicia includes displaying an image of the cell including a plurality perimeter indicia arranged around the perimeter of the cell, with each perimeter indicia representing a permissible game piece facing direction, and
wherein receiving from the first player input indicating a new facing direction for the game piece of the first player includes receiving from the touch-sensitive display input resulting from the first player touching one of the perimeter indicia.

### Claim 42 (depends on 33)

The device of claim 33, wherein the processor is further configured to facilitate gameplay by,
causing the display to display information notifying a first player to take some action;
retrieving the beginning of turn state associated with the game piece of the first player;
receiving data related to a scan of machine readable indicia encoding a unique identifier for the game piece of the first player.

### Claim 43 (depends on 42)

The device of claim 42, wherein the processor is further configured to:
display to the first player data related to the beginning of turn state associated with the game piece of the first player.

### Claim 44 (depends on 42)

The device of claim 42, wherein the processor is further configured to:
prompt the first player for input regarding a desired change of state for the game piece of the first player;
receive input from the first player regarding a change of state for the game piece of the first player; and
store data regarding an end of turn state associated with the game piece of the first player.

### Claim 45

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.