Game Pieces for Use with Touch Screen Devices and Related Methods

Number: 20180126261
Published: 2018-05-10
Filed: 2018-01-10
Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Inventors: Heatherly; Christopher W.; Mkrtchyan; Armen; Backer; Jonathan; White; Brian
CPC: A63F13/245; A63F13/21; A63F13/92; A63F13/73; A63F13/218; A63F13/2145; A63F13/211; G06F3/016; A63F13/235; G06F3/0488; A63F13/217; G06F3/04162; G06F3/0393
Verdict: Medium Hardware
Source: Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline

The keeper's note

Interactive touchscreen game pieces (PGPUB dup).

Abstract

There is provided a system and method for communicating with a first peripheral device, of a plurality of peripheral devices, using a touch-sensitive system that has a processor and a touch surface. According to an exemplary embodiment, a method includes detecting, using the processor, a plurality of touches on the touch surface of the touch-sensitive system that are made by the first peripheral device. The method further includes identifying, using the processor, the first peripheral device based on the plurality of touches on the touch surface of the touch-sensitive system that are made by the first peripheral device. The method additionally includes communicating data, using the processor, to a receptive circuit of the first peripheral device in response to the identifying of the first peripheral device.

Background

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the field of electronic devices, and more particularly, to electronic devices using touch-sensitive surfaces.2. Background Art

Touch-sensitive devices, such as touch screen devices, are becoming increasingly prevalent in the marketplace. These touch-sensitive devices offer a touch-sensitive surface that can detect the presence and position of touch-based input opening up the possibility of new ways to interact with electronic devices. The popularity of recent touch screen devices, including tablet computers such as iPad from Apple®, means that touch screen devices can be found among many family households. At the same time, physical game pieces and/or toys remain a staple of kids, with collectible figures and objects serving as a bedrock for imaginative toy play in the form of interaction between the figures and objects as well as the larger environment.

In this context, kids are having increased exposure to touch screen devices making it desirable to provide new technologies, which can enhance the interactive experience with touch screen devices and their existing toys.

In a conventional approach, a toy may be integrated with a video game or other software running on a computer through establishing wired or wireless communication between the toy and the computer. For example, the video game or other software could run on a touch screen device and communicat

Claims

21. A touch-sensitive system for use by a user, the touch-sensitive system comprising: a touch surface; a peripheral device including: a receptive circuit configured to receive data while the peripheral device is touching the touch surface; and a haptic element; a processor configured to: display a path on the touch surface for travelling by the peripheral device; and detect the peripheral device touching the touch surface at a first portion of the path; and communicate the data to the receptive circuit of the peripheral device, in response to detecting the peripheral device touching the touch surface at the first portion of the path; wherein, in response to receiving the data by the receptive circuit of the peripheral device from the processor, the peripheral device causes the haptic element to provide a haptic feedback to the user. 31. A touch-sensitive system for use by a user, the touch-sensitive system comprising: a touch surface; a peripheral device including: a receptive circuit configured to receive data while the peripheral device is touching the touch surface; and one or more actuators; a processor configured to: display a path on the touch surface for travelling by the peripheral device; and detect the peripheral device touching the touch surface at a first portion of the path; and communicate the data to the receptive circuit of the peripheral device, in response to detecting the peripheral device touching the touch surface at the first portion of the path; wherein, in response to receiving the data by the receptive circuit of the peripheral device from the processor, the peripheral device uses the one or more actuators to interact with the user.

Claims truncated at the source; see the full document.