US 2020/0346111 A1 · PHYSICAL ELEMENT LINKED COMPUTER GAMING METHODS AND SYSTEMS

Abstract

Modern computer based gaming in contrast to traditional gaming does not present the user/player with “responsibility” in that failure has negligible or no consequences and losing an element or part of the game is now essentially limited to failure of the standalone gaming console or failure to maintain an active account with some premium Internet based gaming applications. However, if the player's character within a game was linked to a physical element that stored their data in a secure manner and was required physically to electronically connect to the gaming system for the player to play then loss of the physical element means loss of the avatar. Similarly, if the securely stored data is written down to zero upon the death of the avatar within the game then the system may prevent the user restoring their game to a prior point to replay and avoid their failure.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A method comprising:

providing an electronic device comprising a first microprocessor for executing software instructions stored within a first non-volatile, non-transitory memory of the electronic device relating to a game and a first wireless interface according to a predetermined standard;
providing a physical element associated with a user comprising a second microprocessor and a second non-volatile, non-transitory memory for storing data relating to an avatar within the game and a second wireless interface according to the predetermined standard;
wherein
the avatar is only active within the game when the physical element is associated with the electronic device through the first wireless interface and second wireless interface;
the data stored within the physical element is securely stored and updated by the second microprocessor in dependence upon the actions of the user with the avatar within the game;
and
when the data satisfies a predetermined condition the avatar is terminated and cannot be restored.

4 more elements

A method comprising:

providing an electronic device comprising a first microprocessor, a display, a user input interface, a first non-volatile non-transitory memory (first memory) and a first interface operating according to a predetermined standard;
providing a physical element comprising a second microprocessor, a battery, a second non-volatile non-transitory memory (second memory) and a second interface operating according to the predetermined standard;
and
executing a software application upon the electronic device providing an avatar to a user of the electronic device;
wherein
the physical element stores avatar data relating to the avatar;
the software application associates the physical element to the electronic device via a link established between the first interface and the second interface;
the avatar can only be employed within the software application when the physical element is associated with the electronic device and a first portion of the avatar data indicates the avatar is alive;
updating at least the first portion of the avatar data in dependence upon one or more actions performed by the avatar within the software application, each action initiated by the user;
and
upon determining that the first portion of the avatar data indicates the avatar is not alive securely erasing the avatar data.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Physical element linked computer gaming methods and systems

Life of this patent

Physical element linked computer gaming methods and systems

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21