Communication blocks having multiple-planes of detection components and associated method of conveying information based on their arrangement

An apparatus comprising:

• a housing including a plurality of faces, the plurality of faces including at least a first face and adjoining second and third faces, the first and second faces lying in planes that cut one another, the third face lying in a plane that cuts the planes in which the first and second faces lie;
• a display configured to present information to a user;
• a communication interface configured to exchange data with a plurality of other apparatuses;
• a plurality of detection components each of which is located proximate a respective face of the housing, each of the detection components being configured to detect proximity of a respective face of the housing of the apparatus with respect to a housing of one or more of the other apparatuses, wherein the plurality of detection components include at least a first detection component located proximate the first face, a second detection component located proximate the second face, and a third detection component located proximate the third face, the apparatus thereby supporting a two-dimensional arrangement of apparatuses;
• and
• a processor configured to communicate with the display, communication interface and detection components,
• wherein the apparatus is configured to operate in a standby mode in which the processor is configured to assign a unique group identifier to the apparatus,
• wherein the apparatus is configured to operate in an operation mode during which the a apparatus is grouped and arranged in proximity with other apparatuses to form an arranged group of apparatuses, each of the other apparatus having an assigned unique identifier, the processor and each of the other apparatuses being configured to maintain its assigned group identifier or reassign its group identifier so that all of the apparatuses of the group have a common group identifier,
• wherein during the grouping of the apparatus with the other apparatuses and assignment of the common group identifier, the processor is configured to maintain a timestamp of a last instance of the apparatus being placed in proximity with any of the other apparatuses, and receive timestamps from the other apparatuses of respective last instances of the other apparatuses being placed in proximity with one another the processor being configured to participate in assignment of the common group identifier only with other apparatuses whose timestamps are within a predetermined threshold of the timestamp maintained by the processor,
• wherein as the apparatus and the other apparatuses are grouped and assigned the common identifier, the processor is configured to receive corresponding indications from the detection components, and receive data from the other apparatuses in the group via the communication interface, and
• wherein the processor is configured to calculate an output as a function of the number of apparatuses in the group and arrangement of one or more apparatuses in the group, the number and arrangement being determinable based upon the indications and received data, and wherein the processor is configured to communicate the calculated output via the display.