US 6,027,117 A · Geometric and cryptographic puzzle

Abstract

Puzzles characterized by one or a number of sets of visually identical, physically interchangeable, rotatable pieces that either contain magnets with varying north/south orientations embedded in their sides and/or have a mark or markings on one or more of their edges and computer versions of these puzzles. The object of the puzzles is to arrange the pieces in predetermined shapes and sequences in such a manner that the sides of the pieces which are in contact with the sides of other pieces have opposite magnetic poles facing each other so that the pieces attract, rather than repel or, if edge markings are used with or instead of magnets, so that adjacent edge markings comply with specified rules. In addition, the pieces may be all visually identical except for differences in edge markings, if any, or, alternatively, there may be several sets of visually identical pieces, e.g., pink pieces, blue pieces, yellow pieces and orange pieces, which together comprise a puzzle set. Because each solution to the puzzle is a particular sequence of the puzzle pieces, that sequence of pieces can be used in various ways to generate cryptographic keys which will enable ciphertext, which accompanies the puzzle, to be decoded. In addition, with some methods of generating cryptographic keys from the sequence of pieces in the solution to the puzzle, partial cryptographic keys are generated before the puzzle is completely solved, enabling partial solutions of the puzzle to be checked to determine if they are correct, thereby simplifying very difficult puzzles and making possible the solution of otherwise virtually impossible puzzles.

Claims45

Dependent claims

A method for playing a game, comprising:

(i) providing:
(a) a plurality of game pieces each having a plurality of sides, said game pieces embodying at least one rule according to which said game pieces may be disposed adjacent to one another, said rule specifying that each side of each game piece may be placed adjacent to only selected sides of other game pieces;
and
(b) an encryption of a predetermined cryptographic message;
(ii) placing said game pieces adjacent to each other in one particular permutation to generate a predetermined geometrical design, said predetermined geometrical design being producible by any of a plurality of permutations of said game pieces;
(iii) generating a series of alphanumeric characters from said particular permutation and said encryption, said game pieces bearing indicia from which said series of alphanumeric characters is generated;
and
(v) in the event that the series of generated alphanumeric characters fails to render a sensible message, removing at least one of the game pieces of said particular permutation and regenerating said predetermined geometrical design by placing said game pieces adjacent to each other in another particular permutation.

5 more elements

A method for playing a game, comprising:

(i) providing a plurality of game pieces each having a plurality of sides, said game pieces having at least one structure enabling application of at least one rule according to which said game pieces may be disposed adjacent to one another, said rule specifying that each side of each game piece may be placed adjacent to only selected sides of other game pieces, at least some of said game pieces being each provided with an auxiliary marking which is one of a plurality of possible auxiliary markings all different from and independent of any said structure, a plurality of said game pieces having a first one of said possible auxiliary markings and another plurality of said game pieces having a second one of said possible auxiliary markings;
(ii) providing a plurality of graphic representations of predetermined geometrical designs setting forth different puzzles to be solved, said geometrical designs indicating respective predetermined composite configurations of all of said game pieces and only said game pieces and further indicating respective predetermined arrangements of the auxiliary markings provided on said game pieces, plural game pieces having said first one of said possible auxiliary markings being spaced or separated from one another in at least one of said arrangements;
and
(iii) placing said game pieces adjacent to each other to generate a selected one of said predetermined geometrical designs.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Geometric and cryptographic puzzle

Life of this patent

Geometric and cryptographic puzzle

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims45