Computer-controlled sidewalk tiles

Abstract

Command instruction data can be generated via a computerized control system, with the instruction data being formatted to prompt a plurality of tile units to change their output. The instruction data can be sent from the control system to the tile units, with each of the tile units including a tile controller connected to one or more tiles embedded in one or more sidewalk floors, and with each of the tiles including a user interface output device. At least part of the instruction data from the control system can be received via a tile controller of a tile unit. At least part of the instruction data can be processed via the tile controller. In response, the user interface output device of the tile can be signaled via the tile controller to change the output of the output device.

I/We claim: 
     
         1 . A computer system comprising:
 a computerized tile embedded in a sidewalk floor of a sidewalk, with the tile comprising a user interface output device; and   computerized control hardware connected to the user interface output device, with the computerized control hardware having instructions stored thereon that when executed perform acts comprising:
 processing instruction data that is responsive to user input received proximal to the sidewalk, with the processing of the instruction data being performed using computer-readable tile control rules; and 
 in response to the processing of the instruction data, signaling the user interface output device of the tile to change its output in response to the user input. 
   
     
     
         2 . The computer system of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor in the sidewalk floor, wherein the user input is received via the sensor. 
     
     
         3 . The computer system of  claim 2 , wherein the tile includes the sensor. 
     
     
         4 . The computer system of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor located outside the tile, wherein the user input is received via the sensor. 
     
     
         5 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the control hardware comprises:
 a computerized control system; and   a computerized tile controller, with the tile controller being connected to the tile, with the tile and the tile controller being part of a computerized tile unit, and with the tile controller being connected to the computerized control system.   
     
     
         6 . The computer system of  claim 5 , wherein the system includes a plurality of computerized tile units, each including a computerized controller and a tile comprising an output device. 
     
     
         7 . The computer system of  claim 5 , wherein the computerized control system comprises at least one processor and memory having instructions stored thereon that when executed by at least one processor cause at least one processor to perform acts comprising:
 generating command instruction data, with the command instruction data being formatted to prompt the computerized tile unit to change its output; and   sending the command instruction data to the computerized tile unit.   
     
     
         8 . The computer system of  claim 7 , wherein the tile controller comprises computer hardware having instructions stored thereon that when executed perform acts comprising:
 receiving at least part of the command instruction data from the computerized control system;   processing the at least part of the command instruction data; and   in response to the processing of the at least part of the command instruction data, signaling the user interface output device of the tile to change its output.   
     
     
         9 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the user input, the instruction data, and the change to the output of the tile are part of a game that is played via the computer system using the tile control rules. 
     
     
         10 . A computer system comprising:
 a plurality of tiles embedded in a sidewalk floor, with each of the tiles comprising a user interface output device;   interconnected computerized control hardware connected to the user interface output devices of the tiles, with the computerized control hardware having instructions stored thereon that when executed perform acts comprising:
 receiving computer input for the tiles; 
 processing the computer input using computer-readable tile control rules; and 
 responsive to the processing, signaling the user interface output devices of the tiles to change their output. 
   
     
     
         11 . The computer system of  claim 10 , wherein the computer input comprises computer-readable user input. 
     
     
         12 . The computer system of  claim 11 , wherein the computer system comprises one or more sensors, and wherein the computer-readable user input is provided by the one or more sensors. 
     
     
         13 . The computer system of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise a sensor located in the sidewalk floor. 
     
     
         14 . The computer system of  claim 10 , wherein the control hardware comprises:
 a computerized control system; and   a plurality of computerized tile controllers, with each tile controller being connected to one or more of the tiles, with each tile controller being connected to the computerized control system, and with the computer system including a plurality of computerized tile units that each comprises one of the tile controllers and one or more of the tiles.   
     
     
         15 . The computer system of  claim 14 , wherein the computerized control system comprises at least one processor and memory having instructions stored thereon that when executed by at least one processor cause at least one processor to perform acts comprising:
 generating command instruction data, with the command instruction data being formatted to prompt the computerized tile units to change their output; and   sending the command instruction data to the computerized tile units.   
     
     
         16 . The computer system of  claim 15 , wherein each of the tile controllers comprises computer hardware having instructions stored thereon that when executed perform acts comprising:
 receiving at least part of the command instruction data from the computerized control system;   processing the at least part of the command instruction data; and   in response to the processing of the at least part of the command instruction data, signaling one or more user interface output devices of one or more of the tiles to change its output.   
     
     
         17 . The computer system of  claim 10 , wherein signaling of the user interface output devices of the tiles to change their output comprises signaling a group of the tiles to each display part of an overall visual pattern formed by the group of the tiles. 
     
     
         18 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 processing instruction data that is responsive to user input from a user of a sidewalk, with the processing of the instruction data being performed via computerized control hardware connected to a tile embedded in a sidewalk floor of the sidewalk, with the tile comprising a user interface output device, and with the processing using computer-readable tile control rules;   responding, via the computerized control hardware, to the processing of the instruction data by signaling the user interface output device of the tile to change its output in response to the user input from the user of the sidewalk; and   changing the output of the user interface of the tile in response to the signaling.   
     
     
         19 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 18 , further comprising receiving the user input via a sensor located in the sidewalk floor. 
     
     
         20 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 18 , wherein the control hardware comprises:
 a computerized control system; and   a computerized tile controller, with the tile controller being connected to the tile, with the tile and the tile controller being part of a computerized tile unit, and with the tile controller being connected to the computerized control system.