US 5,643,084 A · Moving video jigsaw puzzle

Abstract

A computer-generated jigsaw puzzle game including a method of generating a jigsaw puzzle game on an electronic display and controlling the play of the game in response to play operations. The method includes the steps of displaying a jigsaw puzzle comprising a plurality of puzzle pieces on the electronic display, where each puzzle piece comprises a video image region on the display. A plurality of video image blocks is sequentially displayed in the video image region of each puzzle piece to generate a moving video image in the video image region of each puzzle piece. Pieces of the puzzle are moved on the display in response to play operations to solve the jigsaw puzzle. Also, a system for implementing the method of generating a jigsaw puzzle game on an electronic display and controlling the play of the game in response to play operations and a computer software system having a set of instructions for generating a jigsaw puzzle game on an electronic display and controlling the play of the game in response to operations.

Claims47

Dependent claims

A method of generating a game which is a jigsaw puzzle game on a display and controlling play of the game in response to play operations, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) displaying the jigsaw puzzle game on the display, the game comprising a plurality of puzzle pieces positioned on the display, wherein each puzzle piece comprises a video image region on the display;
(b) sequentially displaying a plurality of video image blocks in the video image region of at least one puzzle piece to generate a moving video image in the video image region of the puzzle piece;
and
(c) moving one or more puzzle pieces on the display in response to play operations to solve the game;
and
wherein the step of displaying each puzzle piece further comprises the step of excluding from the video image region of the puzzle piece any portion of the video image region which overlaps the video image region of another puzzle piece already displayed, whereby image flicker in overlapping puzzle pieces is eliminated.

3 more elements

A method of generating a game which is a jigsaw puzzle game on a display and controlling play of the game in response to play operations, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) displaying the jigsaw puzzle game on the display, the game comprising a plurality of puzzle pieces positioned on the display, and each puzzle piece comprising a video image region on the display, wherein displaying the game comprises repeating the steps of:
(i) receiving a compressed frame of video image information and decompressing the compressed frame to generate a frame of video image information;
(ii) decomposing the frame of video image information into a plurality of blocks of video image information, wherein each block of video image information corresponds to a corresponding puzzle piece, respectively;
and
(iii) displaying each block of video image information in the video image region of the corresponding puzzle piece;
(b) moving one or more puzzle pieces on the display in response to play operations to solve the game, and snapping together two interlocking puzzle pieces when the interlocking puzzle pieces are placed proximate one another in response to the play operations, wherein the snapped together puzzle pieces form a single snapped puzzle piece to solve the game;
and
(c) generating audio signals in concert with the play of the game, wherein the audio signals are generated for a period of time whereby a player of the game is encouraged to solve the puzzle before the audio signals stop;
wherein the step of displaying the jigsaw puzzle further comprises sequentially displaying a plurality of video image blocks by reputing steps (i)-(iii) for plurality of frames of video image information, wherein the frames of video information represent a video sequence;
and
wherein the step of displaying each puzzle piece further comprises the step of excluding from the video image region of the puzzle piece any portion of the video image region which overlaps the video region of another puzzle piece already displayed, whereby image flicker in overlapping puzzle pieces is eliminated.

8 more elements

A computer software system having a set of instructions for generating a game which is a jigsaw puzzle game on a display and controlling play of the game in response to play operations, the software system comprising:

(a) a puzzle display process for displaying the jigsaw puzzle on the display, the game comprising a plurality of puzzle pieces positioned on the display, wherein each puzzle piece comprises a video image region on the display;
(b) a sequential display process for sequentially displaying a plurality of video images blocks in the video image region of at least one puzzle piece to generate a moving video image in the video image region of the puzzle piece;
and
(c) a movement process for moving one or more puzzle pieces on the display in response to play operations to solve the game;
and
wherein the puzzle display process further comprises a set of instructions for excluding from the video image region of each puzzle piece any portion of the video image region which overlaps the video image region of another puzzle piece already displayed, whereby image flicker in overlapping puzzle pieces is eliminated.

3 more elements

A computer software system having a set of instructions for generating a game which is a jigsaw puzzle game on display and controlling play of the game in response to play operations, the software system comprising:

(a) a puzzle display process for displaying the jigsaw puzzle game on the display, the game comprising a plurality of puzzle pieces positioned on the display, and each puzzle piece comprising a video image region on the display, wherein the puzzle display process comprises:
(i) a sub-process for receiving compressed frames of video image information and decompressing each compressed frame to generate a frame of video image information;
(ii) a sub-process for decomposing each frame of video image information into a plurality of blocks of video image information, wherein each block of video image information in a frame corresponds to a corresponding puzzle piece, respectively;
and
(iii) a sub-process for sequentially displaying the blocks of video image information in the video image region of a corresponding puzzle piece to generate a moving video image in the video image region of each puzzle piece;
(b) a movement process for moving one or more puzzle pieces on the display in response to play operations to solve the game, and snapping together two interlocking puzzle pieces when the interlocking puzzle pieces are placed proximate one another in response to the play operations, wherein the snapped together puzzle pieces form a single snapped puzzle piece to solve the game;
and
(c) a sound generation process for generating audio signals in concert with the play of the game, wherein the audio signals are generated for a period of time whereby a player of the game is encouraged to solve the puzzle before the audio signals stop;
wherein the puzzle display sub-processes sequentially receive, decompose, and display the frames of video information, respectively;
and
wherein the puzzle display process further comprises a set of instructions for excluding from the video image region of each puzzle piece any portion of the video image region which overlaps the video image region of another puzzle piece already displayed, whereby image flicker in overlapping puzzle pieces is eliminated.

8 more elements

A system for generating a game which is a jigsaw puzzle game on a display and controlling play of the game in response to play operations, the system comprising:

(a) means for displaying the jigsaw puzzle game on the display, the game comprising a plurality of puzzle pieces positioned on the display, wherein each puzzle piece comprises a video image region on the display;
(b) means for sequentially displaying a plurality of video image blocks in the video image region of at least one puzzle piece to generate a moving video image in the video image region of the puzzle piece;
and
(c) means for moving one or more puzzle pieces on the display in response to play operations to solve the game;
and
wherein the puzzle display means further comprises means for excluding from the video image region of each puzzle piece any portion of the video image region which overlaps the video image region of another puzzle piece already displayed, whereby image flicker in overlapping puzzle pieces is eliminated.

3 more elements

A system for generating a game which is a jigsaw puzzle game on a display and controlling play of the game in response to play operations, the system comprising:

(a) means for displaying the jigsaw puzzle game on the display, the game comprising a plurality of puzzle pieces positioned on the display, and each puzzle piece comprising a video image region on the display, the display means comprising:
(i) means for receiving compressed frames of video image information, and decompressing the compressed frame to generate a frame of video image information;
(ii) means for decomposing each frame of video image information into a plurality of blocks of video image information, wherein each block of video image information in a frame corresponds to a corresponding puzzle piece, respectively;
and
(iii) means for sequentially displaying the blocks of video image information in the video image region of a corresponding puzzle piece to generate a moving video image in the video image region of each puzzle piece;
(b) means for moving one or more puzzle pieces on the display in response to play operations to solve the game;
(c) means for snapping together two interlocking puzzle pieces when the interlocking puzzle pieces are placed proximate one another in response to the play operations, wherein the snapped together puzzle pieces form a single snapped puzzle piece to solve the game;
and
(d) sound generation means for generating audio signals in concert with the play of the game, wherein the sound generation means generates audio signals for a period of time whereby a player of the game is encouraged to solve the puzzle before the audio signals stop;
and
wherein the puzzle display means further comprises means for excluding from the video image region of each puzzle piece any portion of the video image region which overlaps the video image region of another puzzle piece already displayed whereby image flicker in overlapping puzzle pieces is eliminated.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Moving video jigsaw puzzle

Life of this patent

Moving video jigsaw puzzle

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims47