Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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INTERACTIVE DVD GAMING SYSTEMS
Cross-Reference to Related Applications
[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to U.S.
Patent
Application Serial No. entitled "Interactive DVD Gaming
Systems," filed August 8, 2005; U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No.
60/625,473 entitled "Interactive DVD Gaming System," filed November 3, 2004;
U.S.
Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/630,709 entitled "New Format
Learning
Platform," filed November 23, 2004; U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial
No. 60/668,829 entitled "Interactive DVD Gaming System," filed April 5, 2005;
U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/670,777 entitled
"Interactive DVD
Gaming Systems," filed April 12, 2005; and U.S. Provisional Patent Application
Serial No. 60/683,897 entitled "DVD Duo Tone LCD Text Device DVD Gaming
System Remote Game Device," filed May 23, 2005. The complete disclosures of
the above applications are herein incorporated by reference for all purposes.
Back,uound of the Disclosure
[0002] The present disclosure is directed to gaming systems that include
Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) players, particularly those systems that also
include
card readers. Examples of gaming systems that include DVD players and/or card
readers are found in U.S. Patent Nos. 6,814,294; 6,811,084; 6,803,874;
6,761,315;
6,735,324; 6,709,336; 6,694,356; 6,650,867; 6,527,191; 6,520,504; 6,498,567;
6,419,232; 6,327,459; 6,375,566; 6,225,938; 6,223,348; 6,100,509; 5,607,356;
5,411,259; 5,382,776; 5,331,141; 5,212,368; 4,889,370; 4,861,031; and
4,662,635; JP
Patent No. JP2003076740; U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos.
2005/0026699;
2005/0014563; 2004/0166915; 2004/0054826; 2004/0048642; 2004/0002387;
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2003/0190961; 2003/0155714; 2003/0001016; 2002/0193157; 2002/0140855;
2002/0077180; 2002/0040929; 2002/0028710; 2002/0020745; and 2001/0027560;
EP Patent Application Nos. EP 572710 and EP 567687; and PCT Patent Application
Nos. WO 2004081765; WO 2003018156; WO 200250632; WO 200201494; and WO
2001003788. The complete disclosures of the above patents and patent
applications
are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes.
Summary of the Disclosure
[0003] Some embodiments provide a DVD game remote system
configured to selectively control a DVD player having a DVD game medium. The
DVD game remote system includes a game card, a DVD game remote configured to
selectively control the DVD player, and a card reader subsystem incorporated
with the
DVD game remote and configured to obtain game information from the game card.
The DVD game remote is configured to transmit one or more game signals to the
DVD player responsive, at least in part, to the game information. The one or
more
game signals are configured to selectively control the DVD player and to
facilitate
game play.
[0004] Some embodiments provide a DVD gaming system for playing a
game, including a DVD game medium, a DVD player configured to play the DVD
game medium, a game card, a DVD game remote configured to selectively control
the
DVD player, and a card reader subsystem incorporated with the DVD game remote
and configured to obtain game information from the game card. The DVD game
remote is configured to transmit one or more game signals to the DVD player
responsive, at least in part, to the game infonnation. The one or more game
signals are
configured to selectively control the DVD player and to facilitate game play.
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[0005] Some embodiments provide a method of playing a game with a DVD ganle
remote and a DVD player having a DVD game medium, including drawing a game
card,
processing the game card via a card reader of the DVD game remote, and viewing
one or
more sections of the DVD game medium to facilitate game play.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0006] Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a gaming system.
[0007] Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a DVD gaming system.
[0008] Fig. 3 is a block diagram of a DVD player of the DVD gaming system of
Fig.
2, showing eight general parameter register memories (GPRMs), each GPRM having
sixteen
bits.
[0009] Fig. 4 is a block diagram of a DVD game remote of the DVD gaming system
of Fig. 2.
[0010] Fig. 5 is a block diagram of another embodiment of a card reader
subsystem
for the DVD game remote of Fig. 4.
[001,1] Fig. 6 is a block diagram of another DVD game remote of the DVD
gaming system of Fig. 2.
[0012] Fig. 7 is a block diagram of the card reader subsystem of the DVD
game remote of Fig. 6 showing a game card in the card reader subsystem.
[0013] Fig. 8 is a block diagram of another embodiment of a card reader
subsystem and a game card for the DVD game remote of Fig. 6.
[0014] Fig. 9 is a block diagram of the card reader subsystem and the game
card of Fig. 8 showing the game card in the card reader subsystem.
[0015] Fig. 10 is a flowchart describing a method of play of a game using
the DVD gaming system of Fig. 2.
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[0016] Fig. 11 is a flowchart describing a method of play of another game
using the DVD gaming system of Fig. 2.
Detailed Description of the Disclosure
[0017] Digital Versatile Discs, or DVDs, are optically-readable media
capable of storing relatively large quantities of digital information, which
may be
subsequently accessed by a complementarily configured DVD player, such as a
conventional DVD player, a personal computer DVD player, etc.
[0018] Most DVD media are 4.7-inch discs with a 0.05-inch thickness. DVD
media store data on spiral tracks, which are read from the media with an
extremely
fine, precisely aimed laser. Data takes the form of millions of indentations,
or "data
pits," arranged along the spiral tracks of the media. The data pits refract
light,
which reduces the intensity of reflected light. Sensors register the
difference in
reflection intensity as binary data.
[0019] DVD media generally have a greater storage density and increased
stability when compared to many other storage media, such as magnetic storage
media or other optical storage media, such as compact discs (CDs). For
example,
DVD media are capable of storing more tracks per disc than a CD because the
tracks
may be placed closer together on DVDs than on CDs. The distance between
tracks, or
"track pitch," is approximately 0.74-microns, which is less than half that of
a CD (1.6-
microns). Also, the data pits on a DVD are considerably smaller than on a CD.
Accordingly, the average DVD media holds four times the number of data pits
that
can be held by a CD. The average capacity of a single-sided, single-layered
DVD is
4.7-gigabytes (GB).
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[0020] Some DVD media utilize techniques such as layering and two-
sided manufacturing to achieve even larger storage capacities. With layering,
DVD
media may be constructed with two layers, the outer layer of which is semi-
transparent to allow reading of an underlying layer. The reading laser may
operate at
a relatively high intensity to read the inner layer, and a relatively low
intensity to
read the outer layer. A single-sided, double-layered DVD has a storage
capacity of
approximately 8.5-GB. To increase storage capacity to approximately 17-GB,
both
sides of a disc can be used to store digital information.
[0021] Also, the efficiency of the data structure on a DVD is generally much
better than that of a CD. When CDs were first developed, considerable error
correction was necessary to ensure that a CD would play correctly. Therefore,
more
bits were used for error detection and correction, which limited the capacity
of a
CD to carry usable digital information. The more efficient error correction
code
used with a DVD allows increased capacity for usable digital information.
[0022] Data on DVD media may be stored in a variety of formats. For
example, computer applications, files, and other data may be stored using the
DVD-ROM format. High quality audio may be stored using the DVD-A format.
Full-length feature films are commonly stored on DVD media using the DVD-Video
Standard, which utilizes MPEG-2 video compression and decompression.
[0023] DVD-Video discs are typically formatted to include up to 99 titles,
which may each be subdivided into 99 chapters. Therefore, there are generally
about 9,800 total chapters available on each disc. Each chapter may contain a
"scene" comprised of audio or video information, or some combination thereof,
which
linearly plays from beginning to end. A particular chapter may, however, not
be
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dynamically altered. In other words, the content of each chapter does not
change
from one viewing to the next. Each chapter may additionally, or alternatively,
contain information, such as scripts and stories used herein to refer to
instructions
readable and executable by a conventional DVD player.
[0024] Typical game media includes code executed by a game processor to
establish a game engine. That game engine generates a "scene" based on input
received from a user or based on random calculations performed by the game
processor, and/or dynamically alters such a scene in real-time. A DVD-Video
disc,
in contrast, may be practically limited to showing no more than about 9,800
pre-
recorded scenes. Such scenes may, however, be played in any order or in any
combination.
[0025] Also, typical gaming consoles, such as pay-to-play arcade games,
personal computers, and hand-held gaming devices, are equipped with large
amounts of random access memory (RAM) to hold game information. Conventional
DVD players, in contrast, are not equipped with RAM specifically configured
for
gaming purposes. In general, conventional DVD players are designed for the
sole
purpose of playing high quality audio and video content. Therefore, in order
to
keep costs low, conventional DVD players are typically equipped with the
minimum
amount of resources to play encode audio and video content. Thus, because
large
amounts of RAM are not needed for this purpose, conventional DVD players do
not
include large amounts of RAM.
[0026] Furthermore, the above-mentioned gaming systems are usually
capable of receiving a series of real-time commands in rapid succession from a
game
controller, such as a joystick or a tethered control pad. In contrast, because
the only
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required input are playback control commands such as "Play," "Pause," "Stop,"
"Fast
Forward," "Rewind," "Menu," "Enter," etc., which typically are not executed
immediately one after the other, conventional DVD players typically include
infrared
input that is not configured to receive a series of real-time commands in
rapid
succession.
[0027] Conventional DVD players, however, typically include a minimal
amount of onboard memory to enable the menu features of some DVDs, and to
facilitate playing one of several possible alternate audio tracks, using one
of
several possible camera angles, displaying one of several possible subtitles,
etc.
Accordingly, some embodiments of the DVD gaming system of this disclosure
include DVD media having scripts recorded thereon that are readable by a
conventional DVD player. Those scripts allow the DVD media to use the
available
memory of the DVD player to define game variables, which in turn may be used
to
control game flow. In these and other embodiments, such variables may be used
by
scripts on the DVD to implement a series of logical decisions based on the
held values
of the one or more game variables, on user-provided input, or some combination
thereof. These decisions may include performing actions, such as implementing
other
scripts, setting or modifying values of game variables, playing a specific
scene or
combination of scenes, or any combination thereof, to enable game play. As an
example, some game variables may be used to track or change scores for one or
more
players of the game, and/or may be used to start, stop, and/or display a timer
of the
game.
[0028] Fig. 1 shows a block diagram of a gaming system 10. The gaming
system may include at least one game medium 12, a media player 14, a media
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controller system 16, a media controller 17, and a game display 18. Game
medium 12 may include stored information that may be utilized by media player
14
to present a game on game display 18. Media controller system 16 may serve as
an
interface between a user and the gaming system, so that the user may
interactively
control the game. Gaming system 10 may be configured in various embodiments.
For example, game medium 12 may take the form of a DVD or another suitable
storage medium. Similarly, media player 14 may take the form of a conventional
DVD player if the gaming system utilizes DVD game media, or, if another type
of
game medium is used, a media player that may be complementarily configured to
play
that type of medium.
[0029] Media controller system 16 may include media controller 17 that is an
external input source, such as a general purpose controller configured to
control a
number of different games, or a game-specific controller particularly
configured for
use with a particular game. The media controller system may include additional
components configured to be used with media controller 17 to facilitate game
play.
The particular embodiments of gaming system 10 that are described below should
not be considered as limiting, but rather as providing illustrative examples
of the
numerous possible configurations and features that are withiri the scope of
this
disclosure.
[0030] Fig. 2 shows some embodiments of game system 10, in the form of a
DVD gaming system 20. DVD gaming system 20 may include at least one
DVD game medium 22, a DVD player 24, a DVD game remote system 26, a DVD
game remote 27, and a television 28. DVD game system 20 may be configured to
play games on DVD player 24. DVD game remote system 26 may include one or
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more components configured to be used with DVD game remote 27 to facilitate
game play on DVD player 24.
[0031] The digital information stored on DVD game medium 22 may be
formatted and arranged to utilize the minimal memory of DVD players, such as
DVD
player 24. DVD game medium 22 may store information corresponding to one or
more games, and different DVD game media may store information corresponding
to
other games. Various DVD game media may be used to play different games on DVD
player 24, including DVDs that were primarily intended for non-game uses, such
as pre-recorded movies, TV shows, documentaries, cooking shows, etc. In
contrast
to standard gaming consoles that require proprietary players to play
proprietary
and/or standard media, DVD player 24 may not need to be specially configured
to
play games stored on DVD game medium 22. Instead, DVD game medium 22 may
include information instructing DVD player 24 to store variables and implement
logical decisions based on the values of the variables, to enable a user to
play a game
or games via DVD gaming system 20.
[0032] In Fig. 3, DVD player 24 is shown schematically to include eight
general parameter register memories (GPRMs) 30, each of which is configured to
hold sixteen bits 32 of data. Therefore, DVD player 24 may include 128 bits of
memory. Each bit 32 is typically capable of holding one of two possible
values,
conventionally represented as a zero or a one. GPRMs are typically provided to
enable
menu options and for controlling played content.
[0033] Although DVD player 24 is shown to include memory storage in the
form of eight GPRMs 30, many DVD players may include sixteen GPRMs and 24
system parameter register memories (SPRMs), each of which is configured to
hold
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sixteen bits of data, for a total of 640 bits (or 80 bytes) of memory. Some
DVD
players include more memory, depending on the configuration and number of
GPRMs, SPRMs, and/or other memory storage means. Thus, conventional DVD
players, as the term is used in this disclosure, generally include less than 1
kilobyte
(1,024 bytes or 8,192 bits) of onboard memory.
[0034] Thus, although the capacity of DVD players to store information
may be extremely limited as compared with a traditional gaming console, such
memory storage may be used to hold data corresponding to one or more game
variables, which may be used to control game play. Specifically, GPRMs 30 of
DVD
player 24 may store game information. For example, if DVD game medium 22
includes a trivia game, the first six bits 32a-f of GPRM 30a may be used to
hold
data corresponding to a"Questions" variable, which may represent the number of
questions asked during a particular game. If six bits 32 are allocated to the
Questions
variable, the variable may hold one of sixty-four (26) possible values, such
as any
number from 0 to 63.
[0035] Similarly, bit 32g of GPRM 30a may be used to store a "Multiplayer"
variable or flag. If only one bit 32 is allocated to the Multiplayer flag, it
may hold one
of two (21) possible values. In this manner, it is possible to track whether
the
current game is a single player game represented, for example, by a held zero,
or a
multiplayer game, represented by a held one.
[0036] As can be seen, each GPRM 30 may be segmented, such as by
using bit shifting techniques, to hold more than one variable. Thus, other
bits of
GPRM 30a, as well as GPRMs 30b-h, may be used to hold other variables.
Furthermore, it should be understood that some games may utilize more or fewer
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GPRMs 30, and/or other storage mechanisms, for holding values corresponding to
game variables.
[0037] Because DVD gaming system 20 utilizes a DVD player, a user who
has already purchased and set up such a DVD player may play games without
having to
purchase a separate gaming console or connect additional equipment to the
user's
television, which may not have the appropriate inputs for connecting such
equipment.
This feature of DVD gaming system 20 may be advantageous to game developers
and
retailers, because more individuals have access to DVD players than to
proprietary
game consoles. Thus, games played on a DVD player may appeal to a broader
demographic, including individuals who may be unable to, or do not desire to,
play
games on proprietary gaming consoles.
[0038] In some embodiments, DVD player 24 may accept input from DVD
game remote system 26', which includes any suitable structure configured to
allow
players to interact with and/or control DVD gaming system 20. For example, as
shown in Fig. 4, DVD game remote system 26' may include one or more game cards
34, a card reader subsystem 36, a data processing subsystem 38, and a
communication subsystem 40. The card reader, data processing, communication
subsystems, and/or other suitable subsystems may be referred to as DVD game
remote 27', which is configured to obtain game information from the one or
more
game cards and/or transmit one or more game signals to the DVD player
responsive,
at least in part, to the game information. The one or more game signals may be
configured to selectively control the DVD player and/or to facilitate game
play.
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[0039] One or more game cards 34 may have any suitable shape
and/or size configured to be readable by card reader subsystem 36.
Additionally,
the game cards may include any suitable structure configured to facilitate
game play
and/or allow the card reader subsystem to read the cards and obtain game
information from those cards. For example, game cards 34 may include a player-
readable portion 42 and a machine-readable portion 44.
[0040] The player-readable portion may include at least one of text,
alphanumeric code, symbol, figure, color, and/or any suitable combination
configured to facilitate game play. For example, player-readable portion 42
may
include one or more questions in text form relating to one or more DVD game
media
22. Alternatively, or additionally, the player-readable portion may include
one or
more answers in text form relating to one or more DVD game media 22. The
player-
readable portion also may include points associated with the questions and/or
answers.
[0041] Alternatively, or additionally, the player-readable poi-tion may
include
figures of battling entities, armies, chess pieces, etc. Those figures also
may include
associated point values. Additionally, or alternatively, at least some of the
player-
readable portion may include concealed game information not readable by the
naked
eye but readable through a window of the card reader subsystem. .
[0042] Machine-readable portion 44 may include any suitable structure
configured to store game information and/or, when read by card reader
subsystem 36, provide that information to DVD game remote 27'. For example,
the machine-readable portion may include a barcode, a magnetic stripe, a
microprocessor (such as those used in smart cards or integrated circuit
cards),
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punched holes, and/or any suitable combination. The machine-readable portion
may
store any suitable game information, such as questions, question categories,
answers, specific chapters or time codes on the DVD game medium to be played,
points associated with the questions and/or answers, etc.
[0043] Although the player-readable and machine-readable portions are
shown in specific locations on game cards 34, those portions may be in any
suitable
location on game cards 34. Additionally, although the player-readable and
machine-readable portions are shown in Fig. 4 to have specific sizes, those
portions
may be any suitable size. Moreover, although only one player-readable portion
and
one machine-readable portion are shown, any suitable number of player-readable
and/or machine-readable portions may be used. Furthermore, although the player-
readable and machine-readable portions are shown to be on the same side of
game
cards 34, those portions may be on different sides of the game cards, both
sides of the
cards, or any suitable combination.
[0044] Card reader subsystem 36 may include any suitable structure
configured to obtain game information from game cards 34 and/or provide at
least
some of that information to data processing subsystem 38. For example, the
card
reader subsystem may include a card holder 46, a card reader 48, a display 49,
and a
window 50. Card holder 46 may include any suitable structure configured to
secure
one or more game cards 34 to allow card reader 48 to obtain game information
from
those cards. For example, card holder 46 may include guiding rails, card
inlets, card
outlets, belts, motors, guides, rollers, and/or any suitable combination.
[0045] Card reader 48 may include any suitable structure configured to obtain
game information from one or more cards 34. For example, card reader 48 may
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include one or more optical sensors configured to read barcodes, one or more
magnetic heads configured to read magnetic stripes, one or more integrated
circuit
interfaces configured to connect to and access microprocessors, and/or any
suitable
combination. Card reader 48 also may include additional suitable components
configured to allow the card reader to obtain game information from cards 34,
such as belts, motors, guides, rollers, and/or any suitable combination. For
example, where the game card includes a magnetic stripe and is held stationary
by
card holder 46, then card reader 48 may include motors, rollers, and/or the
like to
allow one or more magnetic heads to move relative the game card and/or vice-
versa
to read the magnetic stripe.
[0046] Display 49 may include any suitable structure configured to display
at least some of the game information from the machine-readable portion of
game
cards 34. For example, display 49 may be in the form of a liquid crystal
display
(LCD), light emitting diodes (LED) display, etc. Display 49 may be used to
provide
"secret" game information to the player that is not displayed in television 28
to the
other players.
[0047] Window 50 may include any suitable structure configured to allow the
player see at least some of the player-readable portions when the game card is
in the
card reader subsystem. For example, windows may be in the form of one or more
clear sections in the card reader subsystem. Additionally, or alternatively,
the
windows may be in the form of one or more reading filter sections configured
to allow
the player to read the concealed game information on the player-readable
portions of
game cards 34. For example, the windows may include a "red-filter" configured
to
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reveal concealed game information on game cards 34. Alternatively, windows 50
may be any suitable combination of clear and reading filter sections.
[0048] Card reader subsystem 36 may include additional suitable components
configured to allow the card reader subsystem to obtain game information from
game
cards 34 and/or provide that information to data processing subsystem 38. For
example, the card reader subsystem may include interfaces, such as interface
wires,
interface cables, etc. Exainples of card reader subsystems are provided in
U.S. Patent
Nos. 6,830,182; 6,826,628; 6,761,310; and 6,742,706. The complete disclosures
of
those patents are herein incorporated by reference for all purposes.
[0049] Although the card reader subsystem is shown to include one display
and one window, any suitable number of displays and windows may be used.
Additionally, although the card reader subsystem is shown to include both a
display
and a window, the card reader subsystem may have only a display or only a
window. For example, the card reader subsystem may have only a window when
secret game information may not be needed. Alternatively, the card reader
subsystem may have only a display when, for example, the game information may
be in the machine-readable portion of the game cards.
[0050] Data processing subsystem 38 may include any suitable structure
configured to obtain game information from card reader subsystem 36 and/or
convert
that information to one or more game signals responsive, at least in part, to
the
game information and/or recognizable by DVD player 24. For example, data
processing subsystem 38 may include a read-only memory (ROM) 54, a central
processing unit (CPU) 56, and a random access memory (RAM) 58.
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[0051] ROM 54 may include any suitable structure configured to provide one
or more predetermined operation programs for CPU 56. The ROM may store
those programs in a non-volatile manner. The programs may include progranis to
receive game information from card reader subsystem 36 and/or convert that
information to game signals responsive, at least in part, to the game
information
and/or recognizable by DVD player 24.
[0052] CPU 56 may include any suitable structure configured to
run the predetermined operation programs from ROM 54, while RAM 58 may
include any suitable structure to store various data required for data
processing by
CPU 56. Data processing subsystem 38 may include additional components
configured to allow the data processing system to obtain game information from
card reader subsystem 36 and/or convert that information to game signals
responsive, at least in part, to the game information and/or recognizable by
DVD
player 24. Those additional components may include a hard disk drive, floppy
disk drive, CD-ROM drive, keyboard, interface wires/cables, and/or any
suitable
combination.
[0053] Game signals may include signals readable by a conventional DVD
player, such as "Up," "Down," "Enter," and "Menu" signals, to cause a specific
response by the DVD player. Additionally, the game signals may include
specific
chapters or time codes corresponding to specific chapters in the DVD game
medium.
[0054] Communication subsystem 40 may include any suitable structure
configured to transmit one or more game signals from data processing subsystem
38
to DVD player 24. For example, the communication subsystem may include a light-
emitting diode (LED) 60. Communication subsystem 40 may include additional
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components configured to allow the communication subsystem to transmit game
signals from data processing subsystem 38 to DVD player 24. For example, to
facilitate the use of DVD game remote 27' with a variety of different DVD
players,
communication subsystem 40 also may include universal remote control
circuitry,
which allows LED 60 to be programmed to communicate with a particular DVD
player, such as DVD player 24.
[0055] If configured with universal remote control circuitry, LED 60
may be programmed by entering a code corresponding to a particular DVD player.
In some embodiments, the DVD game remote may be programmed by directing a
signal from another remote to an optional signal detector of the DVD game
remote.
LED 60 may additionally, or alternatively, be programmed by running an
automatic
detection query in which DVD game remote 27' transmits different signals until
a
signal corresponding to a particular DVD player is found. Although the
communication subsystem is shown to include an LED for communicating
signals, any suitable structure may be used, such as other optical
communication
mechanisms, radio communication mechanisms, or any other suitable mode
configured to send one or more signals to a DVD player.
[0056] Although DVD game remote 27' is shown to include specific
subsystems and specific coinponents within those subsystems, any suitable
combination of subsystems and/or components within the subsystems may be used
configured to allow players to interact with and/or control DVD gaming system
20.
For example, some embodiments of card reader subsystem 36 may not include a
card holder. For example, where game cards 34 may be swiped across card reader
48, as shown in Fig. 5, then a card holder may not be required. Additionally,
that card
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holder may not be required if the card reader is passed over the game card, or
vice-
versa, instead of inserting or swiping the card. Moreover, some or all of data
processing subsystem 38 may not be required if the machine-readable portion of
game
cards 34 includes the game signals for DVD player 24.
[0057] Some embodiments of the DVD game remote system are generally
indicated in Fig. 6 at 26", which includes any suitable structure configured
to allow
players to interact with and/or control DVD gaming system 20. For example, DVD
game remote system 26" may include one or more game cards 134, a card reader
subsystem 136, a data processing subsystem 138, and a communication subsystem
140. The card reader, data processing, communication subsystems, and/or other
suitable subsystems may be referred to as DVD game remote 27", which is
configured to obtain game information from the one or more game cards and/or
transmit one or more game signals to the DVD player to selectively control the
DVD player responsive, at least in part, to the game information. The one or
more
game signals may be configured to selectively control the DVD player and/or to
facilitate game play.
[0058] One or more game cards 134 may have any suitable shape and/or
size configured to be readable by card reader subsystem 136. Additionally, the
game cards may include any suitable structure configured to facilitate gaine
play
and/or allow the card reader subsystem to read the cards and obtain game
information from those cards. For example, game cards 134 may include one or
more player-readable portions 142 and a machine-readable portion 144.
[0059] The player-readable portions may include a play portion 141 and a
label portion 143. The play portion may include at least one of text,
alphanumeric
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code, symbol, figure, color, and/or any suitable combination configured to
facilitate game play. For example, play portion 141 may include one or more
questions in text form. The play portion also may include points associated
with the
questions. Additionally, play portion 141 may include answers to those
questions
identified by any suitable marks, such as "A," "B," "C," and "D" shown in
Figs. 6-7.
Those marks may correspond to the marks in label portion 143. Alternatively,
or
additionally, the play portion may include one or more answers in text form.
Additionally, or alternatively, at least some of the player-readable portion
may
include concealed game information not readable by the naked eye but readable
through a window of the card reader subsystem.
[0060] The label portion may include at least one of text, alphanumeric code,
symbol, figure, color, and/or any suitable combination configured to label one
or
more controls of DVD game remote 27". For example, label portion 143 may
include
suitable marks, such as "A," "B," "C," and "D" shown in Figs. 6-7, which
correspond
to the marks used to identify potential answers to the one or more questions
(or
potential questions to the one or more answers) in play portion 141. Label
portion 143
may be located on game cards 134 such that the label portion is visible
through
windows 150 when the game card is in contact with card reader subsystem 136.
Alternatively, or additionally, label portion 143 may include concealed marks
not
visible to the naked eye but readable through the window of card reader
subsystem
136.
[0061] Machine-readable portion 144 may include any suitable structure
configured to allow card reader subsystem 136 to read the card and obtain game
information from that card. For example, the machine-readable portion may
include a
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barcode, a magnetic stripe, a microprocessor (such as those used in smart
cards or
integrated circuit cards), punched holes, and/or any suitable combination. The
machine-readable portion may store any suitable game information, such as
questions,
question categories, answers, specific chapters or time codes on the DVD game
medium to be played, points associated with the questions and/or answers, etc.
[0062] Although the player-readable and machine-readable portions are
shown in specific locations on game cards 134, those portions may be in any
suitable
location on game cards 134. Additionally, although the player-readable and
machine-
readable portions are shown in Figs. 6-7 to have specific sizes, those
portions may be
any suitable size. Moreover, although only two player-readable portions and
one
machine-readable portion are shown, any suitable number of player-readable
and/or
machine-readable portions may be used. Furthermore, although the player-
readable
and machine-readable portions are shown to be on the same side of game cards
34,
those portions may be on different sides of the game cards, both sides of the
cards, or
any suitable combination.
[0063] Card reader subsystem 136 may include any suitable structure
configured to obtain game information from game cards 134 and/or provide at
least some of that information to data processing subsystem 138. For example,
the
card reader subsystem may include a card holder 146, a card reader 148, a
display
149, one or more windows 150, and one or more player controls 152. Card holder
146 may include any suitable structure configured to secure and/or contact one
or
more game cards 134 to allow card reader 148 to obtain game information from
those cards. For example, card holder 146 may include guiding rails, card
inlets,
card outlets, belts, motors, guides, rollers, and/or any suitable combination.
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[0064] Card reader 148 may include any suitable structure configured to obtain
game information from one or more cards 134. For example, card reader 148 may
include one or more optical sensors configured to read barcodes, one or more
magnetic heads configured to read magnetic stripes, one or more integrated
circuit
interfaces configured to connect to and access microprocessors, and/or any
suitable
combination. Card reader 148 may include additional suitable components
configured to allow the card reader to obtain game information from cards 134,
such as belts, motors, guides, rollers, and/or any suitable combination. For
example,
where the game card includes a magnetic stripe and is held stationary by card
holder 146, then card reader 148 may include motors, rollers, and/or the like
to
allow one or more magnetic heads to move relative the game card and/or to read
that
magnetic stripe.
[0065] Display 149 may include any suitable structure configured to display
at least some of the game information from the machine-readable portion of
game
cards 134. For example, display 149 may be in the form of a liquid crystal
display
(LCD), light emitting diodes (LED) display, etc. Display 149 may be used to
provide
"secret" game inforination to the player that is not displayed in television
28 to the
other players.
[0066] Windows 150 may include any suitable structure configured to
allow the player see the player-readable portions when the game card is in the
card
reader subsystem and/or to identify the functions of the player controls for
the game.
For example, windows may be in the form of one or more clear sections in the
card
reader subsystem. As shown in Fig. 7, the clear section allows the player to
view label
portion 143 and identify the functions of player controls 152 when the game
card is in
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the card reader subsystem. Additionally, or alternatively, the windows may be
in the
form of one or more reading filter sections configured to allow the player to
read the
concealed game information on the player-readable portions of game cards 134.
For
example, the windows may include a "red-filter" configured to reveal concealed
game
information on game cards 134. Alternatively, windows 150 may be any suitable
combination of clear and reading filter sections.
[0067] Player controls 152 include any suitable structure configured to
facilitate game play. For example, player controls 152 are shown to include
one or
more buttons 153, which may correspond to various commands associated with a
particular game. Those commands may be identified by label portion 143 on game
cards 134. The buttons may be mapped to correspond to signals readable by a
conventional DVD player, such as "Up," "Down," "Enter," and "Menu" signals, to
cause a specific response by the DVD player. For example, DVD game medium may
include a timer that may be started and/or stopped by pressing one or more of
the
player controls. Additionally, the player controls may provide the ability for
a player
to select among different answers (and/or questions) on the game card and have
the
DVD player and the DVD game medium determine if the selected answer (and/or
question) is coirect.
[0068] Although player controls 152 are shown in Figs. 6-9 to include
buttons, any suitable structure configured to facilitate game play may be
used, such as
levers, pull cords, rotating elements, etc. Additionally, although four player
controls are shown, any suitable number of player controls may be used.
Moreover,
although the player controls are shown to include only buttons, any suitable
combination of controls may be used.
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[0069] Card reader subsystem 136 may include additional suitable
components configured to allow the card reader subsystem to obtain game
information from game cards 134 and/or provide that information to data
processing
subsystem 138. For example, the card reader subsystem may include interfaces,
such
as interface wires, interface cables, etc. Examples of card reader subsystems
are
provided in U.S. Patent Nos. 6,830,182; 6,826,628; 6,761,310; and 6,742,706.
The
complete disclosures of those patents have been incorporated by reference for
all
purposes.
[0070] Although the card reader subsystem is shown to include two windows
and one display, any suitable number of windows and displays may be used.
Additionally, although the card reader subsystem is shown to include both
windows
and a display, the card reader subsystem may have only windows or only a
display. For example, the card reader subsystem may have only windows when
secret game information may not be needed. Alternatively, the card reader
subsystem
may have only a display when, for example, the questions and/or answers may be
in
the machine-readable portion instead of the player-readable portion of the
game
cards. Also, the card reader subsystem may have only one window and one
display,
where the display may identify the functions of the player controls.
[0071] , Moreover, although the card reader subsystem and the game cards are
shown to be configured a specific way in Figs. 6-7, that subsystem and those
game
cards may be configured in any suitable way. For example, card reader
subsystem
136 may be configured such that label portion 143 is not required. As shown in
Figs. 8-9, player controls 152 may be located adjacent to play portion 141.
The
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play portion may thus identify the commands associated with player controls
152
without label portion 143.
[0072] Alternatively, or additionally, the card reader subsystem may include
one or more faces (not shown) that identify the commands associated with the
player
controls. The game cards and/or any other component of the DVD gaming system
may identify which face should be used. Alternatively, the card reader
subsystem
may be configured such that the game card covers the player controls and the
player
may press the appropriate section of the label portion to activate the
selected player
control.
[0073] Data processing subsystem 138 may include any suitable structure
configured to obtain game information from card reader subsystem 136 and/or
convert that information to game signals responsive, at least in part, to the
game
information and/or recognizable by DVD player 24. For example, data
processing subsystem 138 may include a read-only memory (ROM) 154, a
central processing unit (CPU) 156, and a random access memory (RAM) 158.
[0074] ROM 154 may include any suitable structure configured to provide
one or more predetermined operation programs for CPU 156. The ROM may store
those programs in a non-volatile manner. The programs may include programs to
accept game information from card reader subsystem 136 and/or convert that
information to game signals responsive, at least in part, to the game
information
and/or recognizable by DVD player 24.
[0075] CPU 156 may include any suitable structure configured to
run the predetermined operation programs from ROM 154, while RAM 158
may include any suitable structure to store various data required for data
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processing by CPU 156. Data processing subsystem 138 may include additional
components configured to allow the data processing system to obtain game
information from card reader subsystem 136 and/or convert that information to
game signals responsive, at least in part, to the game information and/or
recognizable
by DVD player 24. Those additional components may include a hard disk drive,
floppy disk drive, CD-ROM drive, keyboard, interface wires/cables, and/or any
suitable combination.
[0076] Game signals may include signals readable by a conventional DVD
player, such as "Up," "Down," "Enter," and "Menu" signals, to cause a specific
response by the DVD player. Additionally, the game signals may include
specific
chapters or time codes corresponding to specific chapters in the DVD game
medium.
[0077] Communication subsystem 140 may include any suitable structure
configured to transmit game signals from data processing subsystem 138 and/or
card
reader subsystem 136 to DVD player 24. For example, the communication
subsystem
may include a light-emitting diode (LED) 160. Communication subsystem 140
may include additional components configured to allow the communication
subsystem to transmit game signals from data processing subsystem 138 and/or
card reader subsystem 136 to DVD player 24. For example, to facilitate the use
of
DVD game remote 27" with a variety of different DVD players, communication
subsystem 140 also may include universal remote control circuitry, which
allows
LED 160 to be programmed to communicate with a particular DVD player, such as
DVD player 24.
[0078] If configured with universal remote control circuitry, LED 160
may be programmed by entering a code corresponding to a particular DVD
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player. In some embodiments, the DVD game remote may be programmed by
directing a signal from another remote to an optional signal detector of the
DVD
game remote. LED 160 may additionally, or alternatively, be programmed by
running an automatic detection query in which DVD game remote 27" transmits
different signals until a signal corresponding to a particular DVD player is
found.
Although the communication subsystem is shown to include an LED for
communicating signals, any suitable structure may be used, such as other
optical
communication mechanisms, radio communication mechanisms, or any other
suitable
mode configured to send one or more signals to a DVD player.
[0079] Although DVD game remote 27" is shown to include specific
subsystems and specific components within those subsystems, any suitable
combination of subsystems and/or components within the subsystems may be used
configured to allow players to interact with and/or control DVD gaming system
20.
For example, some or all of data processing subsystem 138 may not be required
if
the machine-readable portion of game cards 134 includes the game signals for
DVD
player 24.
[0080] Various games nlay be played with DVD gaming system 20 having
DVD game remote 26, such as DVD game remotes 26' and/or 26" illustrated in
Figs.
4-9. For example, a method of playing some of the many possible games is
indicated
generally at 200 in Fig. 8. A player begins his or her turn at 202. The player
draws
a card from the game cards at 204. That player may be required to draw the
card
in any suitable way. For example, the game cards may be shuffled and stacked
with
the player taking a card from the stack. Alternatively, or additionally, the
game cards
may be arranged in specific categories with one or more players (including the
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current player) selecting a game card(s) from the category in which the first
or
designated player selected from. Those categories may be based on any suitable
criteria, including the different types of DVD game media available and/or on
a
specific DVD game medium. For example, the game cards may be categorized by
specific movies on the DVD game media and the first, designated, and/or
current
player selects which specific movie he or she would like to answer questions
on.
[0081] The player inserts the DVD game medium that is required by the
drawn card into the DVD player at 206. The player then answers one or more
questions on the player-readable portion of the card at 208. Prior to
answering the
one or more questions on the game card, those questions may be read aloud by
the
player, an opposing player, a person not participating in the game, and/or any
suitable
person.
[0082] After answering the one or more questions, the player processes the
game card via the card reader on the DVD game remote at 210. Processing the
game
card via the card reader may include inserting the game card into the card
reader
subsystem, sliding the game card.across the card reader subsystem, sliding the
DVD
game remote across the game card, and/or any suitable method configured to
allow
the card reader to obtain the game information from the game card and to allow
the
DVD game remote to transmit one or more game signals responsive, at least in
part, to
the game information. In some embodiments, processing the game card via the
card
reader does not require physical contact between the game card and the card
reader.
The card reader reads the machine-readable portion of the game card and sends
the
appropriate signals to the DVD player. That DVD player then plays one or more
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specific sections of the DVD game medium to reveal the answers to the one or
more
questions at 212.
[0083] The player then determines if an additional card (or the other side of
the card where the card has questions on both sides) will be played at 214.
The player
may draw an additional card when one or more questions on the current game
card are
answered correctly, when all the questions on the current game card are
answered
{
correctly, and/or any suitable scenario. Alternatively, step 214 and node 216
may be
eliminated in some embodiments and the player may never draw an additional
card in
those embodiments.
[0084] If an additional card (or side) is to be played at 216, then the player
draws a card at 204. However, if an additional card is not to be played at
218, then
the player calculates his or her score at 220 and ends the turn at 222. The
score may
be calculated in any suitable way based on whether the player answered
correctly
and/or incorrectly. For example, the one or more questions on the game card
may
include associated points and the player receives points by answering the
questions
correctly. Additionally, or alternatively, the player's score may be deducted
by
answering the questions incorrectly. In some embodiments, the DVD gaming
system may calculate and keep track of the scores of the players by using, for
example, the onboard memory of the DVD player.
[0085] Players take turns going through method 200 and the goal may be
to play successive rounds until a suitable stopping point. Suitable stopping
points may
be based on time, score, number of game cards remaining, and/or any suitable
combination. Additionally, method 200 may include any suitable preparation
steps
before beginning the game. For example, all the required DVD game media may
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be prepared and the DVD player, DVD game remote, and/or television may be
switched on before beginning the game.
[0086] Method 200 may, however, be performed in different sequences
and in different combinations, not all steps being required for all
embodiments of the
DVD gaming system. Alternatively, or additionally, method 200 may be modified
in
any suitable way. For example, step 206 may be performed as a preparation step
if
only one DVD game medium is to be used for a particular turn or for the entire
game.
Additionally, the game cards may include one or more answers (instead of
questions),
step 208 may require player to phrase an appropriate question to the answers,
and/or step
212 may play a specific section of the DVD game medium that reveals the
appropriate
question. Moreover, although the method is described as being performed by a
player,
a team of two or more players may perform the method. Furthermore, although
method
200 is described as a game that involves at least two opposing players taking
turns, the
game may be played by only one player or by one player against one or more
virtual
players created by the DVD gaming system.
[0087] Another method of playing some of the many possible games with DVD
gaining system 20 having DVD game remote 26, such as DVD game remotes 26"
illustrated in Figs. 6-9, is indicated generally at 300 in Fig. 11. A player
begins his
or her turn at 302 and starts the timer by activating one or more of the
player controls
at 304. The player then draws a card from the game cards at 306.
[0088] That player may be required to draw the card in any suitable way.
For example, the game cards may be shuffled aind stacked with the player
taking a
card from the stack. Alternatively, or additionally, the game cards may be
arranged in
specific categories with one or more players (including the current player)
selecting a
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game card(s) from the category in which the first or the designated player
selected
from. Those categories may be based on any suitable criteria, including the
different
types of DVD game media available and/or on a specific DVD gaine medium.
[0089] The player inserts the drawn game card into the card reader subsystem
at 308. DVD player then plays one or more specific sections of the DVD game
medium at 310 to display on the television one or more questions, categories,
clues,
and/or any suitable combination. The player then reads potential answers on
the
game card via the window on the card reader subsystem at 312, and selects an
answer at 314. If the player is part of a team, that player may announce or
call out
the answers on the game card before selecting an answer for the team.
[0090] Once an answer is selected, the player activates the player control on
the
DVD game remote corresponding to the selected answer at 316. The DVD player
receives the signal from the DVD game remote and initiates a script contained
in the
DVD game medium in response to the signal. Specifically, the DVD player and/or
the DVD game medium determine if the selected answer is correct at 318, and
game
play continues via return node 319. The DVD player and/or the DVD game medium
may display the selected answer, whether the selected answer was correct, the
score
based on the selected answer, and/or any suitable information. After one or
more of
steps 306-318, the timer is checked to see if it has ended at 320. If the
timer has not
ended, then game play continues via node 322. However, if the timer has ended,
then
the player's total score is calculated at 326.
[0091] The total score may be calculated by the DVD player and/or DVD
game medium. That total score also may be displayed on the television.
Alternatively, or additionally, the total score may be calculated by one or
more of
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the players. The score may be calculated in any suitable way based on whether
the
player answered correctly and/or incorrectly. For example, the one or more
questions on the game card may include associated points and the player
receives
points by answering the questions correctly. Additionally, or alternatively,
the
player's score may be deducted by answering the questions incorrectly. The
player's
turn ends at 328.
[0092] Players take turns going through method 300 and the goal may be
to play successive rounds until a suitable stopping point. Suitable stopping
points
may be based on total time, score, number of game cards remaining, and/or any
suitable combination. Additionally, method 300 may include any suitable
preparation steps before beginning the game. For example, all the required DVD
game media may be prepared and the DVD player, DVD game remote, and/or
television may be switched on before beginning the game.
[0093] Method 300 may, however, be performed in different sequences
and in different combinations, not all steps being required for all
embodiments of the
DVD gaming system. Alternatively, or additionally, method 300 may be modified
in any suitable way. For example, a timer may not be used and play may be
regulated in any other suitable method, such as whether questions were
answered
correctly. Additionally, return node 319 may not present and the player only
gets to
draw one game card. Moreover, the specific section of the DVD may include one
or
more answers (instead of questions) at 310, which would require the player to
read
potential questions that is appropriate to the answer at 312, select the
appropriate
question at 314, and activate the appropriate player control at 316.
Additionally,
although the method is described as being performed by a player, the method
may be
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performed by a team of two or more players. Furthermore, although method 200
is
described as a game that involves at least two opposing players taking turns,
the
game may be played by only one player or by one player against one or more
virtual
players created by the DVD gaming system.
[0094] Additionally, methods 200 or 300, and other possible games may be
played with game cards 34 and a conventional DVD remote. For example, game
cards 34 or 134 may contain instructions on which chapters of the DVD to play.
Instead of processing the game card via the card reader at 210, or inserting
the game
card in the card reader at 308, the player may follow the instructions on that
card to
play the specific chapter(s) on the DVD game medium using a conventional DVD
player remote and/or by manipulating the appropriate controls on the DVD
player.
[0095] Other games may be played with DVD gaming system 20 having DVD
game remote 26, such as DVD game remotes 26' and/or 26" illustrated in Figs. 4-
9.
For example, the game cards may include battling entities, armies, chess
pieces, etc.
with associated points. Each player may select the card that he or she wants
to use for
the particular conflict. The card reader subsystem may read those cards and
send
game information relating to those cards to the data processing subsystem.
That
data processing system may interpolate the points of the cards, determine the
outcome of the conflict based on the information it was provided, and then
send game
signals to the DVD player via the communication subsystem. The DVD player may
play one or more specific chapters that visually show the conflict and its
outcome.
[0096] Although gaming systems and features of gaming systems have been
shown and described with reference to the foregoing operational principles
and preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will find apparent that
various
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changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and
scope
of the claims. The present disclosure is intended to embrace all such
alternatives,
modifications, and variances that fall within the scope of the appended
claims.
