Wirelessly distributed electronic circle gaming

Abstract

A distributed electronic game system that includes a flat multi-touch functional central display that is capable of receiving wireless signals from surrounding game input devices, interpreting control actions from the wireless signals, and affecting game state in response to the control actions. The central display may be positioned horizontally and may act as a central play area for circle games. The central display includes general-purpose processing capability allowing the central display to be a central play area for a wide variety of board games and other circle games. The surrounding game input devices might be an orientation sensing game input device or may be private player consoles, or other game pieces.

1 . A distributed electronic game system comprising:
 a game input device; and   a flat multi-touch functional display,   wherein the game input device comprises:
 an orientation sensor that, when active, outputs a spatial orientation signal representing a spatial orientation of the game input device, wherein the orientation sensor is rigidly attached to the game input device; 
 a transmission mechanism communicatively coupled to the orientation sensor so as to receive the spatial orientation signal and transmit spatial orientation information present in the spatial orientation signal to the flat multi-touch functional display. 
   wherein the flat multi-touch functional display comprises:
 a reception mechanism configured to receive the spatial orientation information transmitted by the transmission mechanism; and 
 a game incorporation mechanism configured to identify the spatial orientation of the game input device using the spatial orientation information received by the reception mechanism and alter a game state based on the spatial orientation information. 
   
     
     
         2 . The distributed electronic game system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the transmission mechanism transmits information using wireless electro-magnetic radiation. 
     
     
         3 . The distributed electronic game system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the game input device is a multi-sided die. 
     
     
         4 . The distributed electronic game system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the game input device is a coin. 
     
     
         5 . The distributed electronic game system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the game input device is a game piece miniature. 
     
     
         6 . The wireless game piece in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the body is composed of plastic in its majority. 
     
     
         7 . The wireless game piece in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the body is composed of wood in its majority. 
     
     
         8 . The wireless game piece in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the body is composed of metal in its majority. 
     
     
         9 . The distributed electronic game system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the orientation sensor is an accelerometer. 
     
     
         10 . The distributed electronic game system in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein the orientation sensor further comprises a compass that generates a geographical orientation signal indicating a geographical orientation of the game input device, wherein the transmission mechanism receives the geographical orientation signal and transmits geographical orientation information present in the geographical orientation signal to the flat multi-touch functional display. 
     
     
         11 . The distributed electronic game system in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one player console, each associated with at least one, but less than all, of the players of the game, and comprising a private display area and game logic cable of rendering at least a portion a private portion of game state associated with the at least one player on the private display area, each player console comprising:
 an input mechanism capable of responding to physical input of the at least one player; and 
 a transmission mechanism capable of transmitting input information representing the physical input of the at least one player to the flat multi-touch functional display. 
   
     
     
         12 . The distributed electronic game system in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the player console also includes a reception mechanism that receives the spatial orientation information transmitted by the game input device, wherein the game logic of the player console affects what is displayed on the private display area depending on the received spatial orientation information. 
     
     
         13 . The distributed electronic game system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the transmission mechanism is further configured to transmit a locally unique identifier for the game input device. 
     
     
         14 . The distributed electronic game system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the transmission mechanism is further configured to transmit information regarding one or more characteristics of the game input device. 
     
     
         15 . The distributed electronic game system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the transmission mechanism is further configured to transmit information regarding a quality of the game input device. 
     
     
         16 . The distributed electronic game system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the game incorporation mechanism is configured to alter a game state at least under some circumstances using a combination of the spatial orientation information, and pressure detected on the flat multi-touch functional display. 
     
     
         17 . A distributed electronic game system comprising:
 a flat multi-touch functional display comprising a public display area and game logic capable of rendering at least a portion of public game state on the public display area, and   a player console associated with at least one, but less than all, of all of the players of the game, and comprising a private display area and game logic cable of rendering at least a portion a private portion of game state associated with the at least one player on the private display area,   wherein the player-console comprises:
 an input mechanism capable of responding to physical input of the at least one player; and 
 a transmission mechanism capable of transmitting input information representing the physical input of the at least one player to the flat multi-touch functional display, and 
   wherein the flat multi-touch horizontal functional display comprises:
 a reception mechanism configured to receive the input information transmitted by the transmission mechanism; and 
 a game incorporation mechanism configured to identify the physical input of the at least one player using the input information and alter a game state based on the input information. 
   
     
     
         18 . The distributed electronic game system in accordance with  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a plurality of player consoles including the player console, wherein each of the plurality of player console comprises:
 a private display area; 
 game logic capable of rendering at least a portion a private portion of game state associated with a corresponding group of one or more players on the private display area; 
 an input mechanism capable of responding to physical input of at least one player of the corresponding group of one or more players; and 
 a transmission mechanism capable of transmitting input information representing the physical input of the at least one player of the corresponding group of at least one or more players to the flat multi-touch functional display. 
   
     
     
         19 . The distributed electronic game system in accordance with  claim 18 , wherein at least one of the plurality of player consoles is unique from the remaining of the plurality of player consoles. 
     
     
         20 . The distributed electronic game system in accordance with  claim 19 , wherein the at least one of the player consoles is a game master player console. 
     
     
         21 . The distributed electronic game system in accordance with  claim 20 , wherein the game master player console allows a game master to control a portion of the game state that is displayed on the flat multi-touch functional display. 
     
     
         22 . The distributed electronic game system in accordance with  claim 20 , wherein the game master player console allows a game master to control what effect another player's actions have on game logic. 
     
     
         23 . The distributed electronic game system in accordance with  claim 20 , wherein the game master player console allows a game master to create a scenario and setting of a game associated with the game state. 
     
     
         24 . The distributed electronic game system in accordance with  claim 18 , wherein for at least one of the plurality of player consoles, the transmission mechanism is a wireless transmission mechanism. 
     
     
         25 . The distributed electronic game system in accordance with  claim 18 , wherein for all of the plurality of player consoles, the transmission mechanism is a wireless transmission mechanism. 
     
     
         26 . The distributed electronic game system in accordance with  claim 18 , wherein for at least one of the plurality of player consoles is remotely located, wherein the transmission mechanism for one or more of the at least one of the plurality of player consoles is an Internet connection. 
     
     
         27 . The distributed electronic game system in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein the flat multi-touch functional display comprises a plurality of cameras as capable of capturing a video image. 
     
     
         28 . The distributed electronic game system in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein the flat multi-touch function display includes logic that displays captured video from at least one of the plurality of cameras on the public display area of the flat multi-touch function display. 
     
     
         29 . The distributed electronic game system in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein the flat multi-touch function display is configured to transmit captured video from at least one of the plurality of cameras to at least one of the plurality of player consoles, wherein one or more of the at least one of the plurality of player consoles are configured to display at least some of the transmitted captured video in the private display area of the player console. 
     
     
         30 . A wireless game piece comprising:
 a body;   an orientation sensor embedded within the body and that is structured to, when active, output a spatial orientation signal representing a spatial orientation of the body of the wireless game piece;   a transmission mechanism embedded within the body and communicatively coupled to the orientation sensor so as to receive the spatial orientation signal and transmit spatial orientation information present in the spatial orientation signal to locations external to the wireless game piece; and   an electronic power source embedded within the body and coupled to the orientation sensor and the transmission mechanism so as to electronically power the orientation sensor and the transmission mechanism.   
     
     
         31 . The wireless game piece in accordance with  claim 30 , wherein the wireless game piece is a wireless die, and the body is a multi-sided body with at least four flat sides. 
     
     
         32 . The wireless game piece in accordance with  claim 30 , wherein the wireless game piece is coin. 
     
     
         33 . The wireless game piece in accordance with  claim 30 , wherein the wireless game piece is a game piece miniature. 
     
     
         34 . The wireless game piece in accordance with  claim 30 , wherein the body is composed of plastic in its majority. 
     
     
         35 . The wireless game piece in accordance with  claim 30 , wherein the body is composed of wood in its majority. 
     
     
         36 . The wireless game piece in accordance with  claim 30 , wherein the body is composed of metal in its majority. 
     
     
         37 . The wireless game piece in accordance with  claim 30 , wherein the electronic power source is a rechargeable battery, the wireless game piece further comprising:
 a plurality of electrical contacts accessible from outside of the body, each establishing an electrical path from the outside of the body to the rechargeable battery.   
     
     
         38 . The wireless game piece in accordance with  claim 30 , wherein the electronic power source is a non-rechargable battery. 
     
     
         39 . The wireless game piece in accordance with  claim 30 , wherein the electronic power source is an insertable and removable battery. 
     
     
         40 . The wireless game piece in accordance with  claim 30 , wherein the electronic power source is integrated within the wireless game piece so as to not be non-removable. 
     
     
         41 . The wireless game piece in accordance with  claim 30 , the wireless game piece further comprising:
 a status indicator visible from external to the body.   
     
     
         42 . The wireless game piece in accordance with  claim 30 , wherein the body is translucent. 
     
     
         43 . The wireless game piece in accordance with  claim 30 , wherein the body is opaque. 
     
     
         44 . The wireless game piece in accordance with  claim 30 , further comprising:
 a counterweight positioned rigidly within the multi-sided body so as to further center a center of gravity of the wireless game piece.   
     
     
         45 . A wireless game piece recharger comprising:
 a recharger body having a recharger receptacle sized to receive a body of a wireless game piece having an embedded rechargeable battery;   a plurality of electrical contacts in the recharger receptacle; and   a power source configured to provide recharging electrical power through at least some of the plurality of electrical contacts and to the rechargeable battery when the wireless game piece is inserted into the receptacle in a specific orientation.   
     
     
         46 . The wireless game piece recharger in accordance with  claim 45 , wherein the recharger receptacle is sized to receive a wireless die. 
     
     
         47 . The wireless die recharger in accordance with  claim 46 , wherein the recharger receptacle is sized to receive a six-sided cube die. 
     
     
         48 . The wireless game piece recharger in accordance with  claim 45 , wherein the recharger body has a plurality of recharger receptacles, each sized to receive a corresponding rechargable game piece, and each containing a plurality of electrical contacts for recharging the corresponding rechargeable game piece. 
     
     
         49 . The wireless game piece recharger in accordance with  claim 45 , further comprising:
 a cover that is configured to close onto the recharger body so as to create a cavity defined by the cover and by the recharger receptacle that fits the wireless game piece.