AU2021100682B4

AU2021100682B4 - Redemption points method and system for laser-tag games

Info

Publication number: AU2021100682B4
Application number: AU2021100682A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Christopher Scott Carton
Original assignee: Laserforce International Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Laserforce International Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2020-03-04
Filing date: 2021-02-03
Publication date: 2021-11-18
Anticipated expiration: 2029-02-03
Also published as: AU2021100682A4

Abstract

A method comprising: accessing, via laser tag mobile devices, comprising at least one processor, user identifications; a mobile device identifier enabling each device to be associated with a user; enabling, via each user's device, verification of game events as corresponding to a recordable event; a game controller computing device having at least one processor and an associated database of data being information of recorded verified events corresponding to the users; automatically determining via the computing device and the database, information of verified events and generating from them at least one record for each user; and communicating, via the users'laser tag mobile device or other human detectable output, the said record or a further record derived from it.

Description

REDEMPTION POINTS METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR LASER-TAG GAMES FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] THIS INVENTION relates to a redemption points system for laser-tag games and associated method.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Historically, redemption points systems in the amusement industry were coin/note (later token) operated systems where a player inserted money/tokens into a machine to play, and were awarded redemption points in the form of paper tickets which, when accumulated in sufficient quantities, could be redeemed for prizes.

[0003] This type of historical system cannot be implemented with mobile laser-tag equipment because:

(i) There is no facility within the mobile equipment for notes/coins/tokens to be received. (ii) There is no facility within the mobile equipment for paper tickets to be issued.

[0004] The reason there was no facility within the mobile laser-tag equipment to accommodate these mechanisms was due to the physical size and weight of the systems, as well as power limitations, and also security issues due to money-handling.

[0005] Subsequently, card entitlement systems were developed for the amusement industry replacing the notes/coins/tokens acceptors with card readers. The physical paper tickets at individual amusement machines were replaced by electronic redemption points (also known in the amusement industry as e-tickets or power-tickets) stored in a backend database.

[0006] Laser-tag is an entertainment attraction wherein players are fitted with mobile laser-tag equipment (in the form of a vest and/or laser-gun), enter a playing area (known as an arena) and engage in simulated laser combat with other players and fixed targets located throughout the arena.

[0007] Where laser-tag is present in an entertainment venue, the only current way redemption points can be awarded for laser-tag play is via a fixed card reader at the entry to the laser-tag attraction. Customers present their card to this reader and the card entitlement system can be configured to award a fixed number of redemption points.

[0008] In general redeemable points systems are common place with loyalty programs. "In-game" rewards and their redemption is also common in computer video games.

[0009] Australian Innovation Patent 2013101220 sets out an idea for a particular achievement and reward system for laser tag games but does not describe how that idea is to be implemented.

[0010] Laser tag gaming has been around for over 40 years. Incorporated herein by cross reference are a few examples of patent documents concerning laser tag gaming being listed as follows:

AU2020101100; US2019353458; US2019321718; KR101958735; US2019126135; KR101941988;US2018353845; US2016339335;US2016184698;AU2015101206; AU2014100605; AU2013101501; AU2013101500; AU2013101339; AU2013101316; US2013296040; AU2013101239; AU2013101272; AU2013101271; USD907704; USD907720;USD896311;USD895545;US2017191800.

[0011] Therefore the present invention arises in a "crowded" or "mature" art.

[0012] The Applicant's invention should be viewed through the lens of a crowded and mature art in order to demonstrate that in all the circumstances the notional skilled person would be presented with many similar solutions to the present invention. Since the present invention arises in a crowded art it would be prima face wrong to suggest that there was, or is, apart from the very general problem of compiling and issuing rewards, as in for example proposed in 2013101220, that there was any particular problem or motivation extant at the filing date of the present application that would give rise to the non-inventive notional person coming up with the present invention either in idea, concept or practical form. Thus the recognition and the present conception may be considered as whole or part of the Applicant's innovative/inventive step.

[0013] With this and the other background factors, including asset out above in mind, it should be clearly appreciated to the reader, that it is elementary that exercise of the inventive faculty in all the circumstances, in such a crowded art, is likely to be present in small variations. This is a background observation in hindsight only and is not to say that any of Applicant's new features whether individually or in combination are in any way slight or small. All that is required is a "scintilla" of invention.

[0014] The present system, focusses on a player's actual performance during the laser-tag game.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0015] In one aspect therefore, the present invention resides in a method comprising: accessing, via laser tag mobile devices, comprising at least one processor, user identifications; a device identifier enabling each device to be associated with a user; enabling, via each user's device, verification of game events as corresponding to a recordable event; a game controller computing device having at least one processor and an associated database of data being information of recorded verified events corresponding to the users; automatically determining via the computing device and the database, information of verified events and generating from them at least one record for each user; communicating, via the users' laser tag mobile device or other human detectable output, the said record or a further record derived from it.

[0016] The user is typically an individual player but may be a spectator or team. So the record may involve a user subgroup identifier within the scope of the term. The further record may be a tally of other records. The laser tag mobile devices may typically be a gun, vest or the like carried by a user. The device identifier and user identifications are sufficient to permit users and devices to be mapped to a database along with dynamic ingame data, for later processing and retrieval of records. Game events typically include inter alia, firing a gun and the outcome of that shot. The game controller is typically a server computing device and may include a local and remote devices or a combination of the two. The internet may be part of this. Any wireless communication system may be employed. The computation of the at least one record may involve any rewards arrangement chosen by the venue of the games administrator. The communication of the record may be any audio/visual or anything that may be understood by the user. The record may be communicated via card or by an app on a mobile phone. The record may be delivered "in kind", rather than a "record" per se, the term should be understood to embrace tokens of value to the user.

[0017] In another aspect the method is employed in a preferred redemption points system for laser-tag games wherein players are awarded redemption points for various actions within the game. The system comprises one or more mobile laser-tag equipment, each fitted with a reader arranged to read a machine readable identification code, a wireless communication link arranged to send and receive information regarding the identification code and laser-tag game events, a game controller arranged to receive data from the wireless link, process game events and determine redemption points awarded on the basis of score thresholds, interaction with particular arena targets or performance of specific actions, a redemption points database arranged to store the identification code and redemption points awarded.

[0018] The mobile laser-tag equipment may issue an audible sound effect and/or speech message to indicate when redemption points are awarded to a player. An audible speech message may be issued at the end of the laser-tag game announcing the total redemption points awarded to a player for that game.

[0019] A visual graphic may be displayed to indicate how many redemption points have been awarded to a player. The visual graphic may be displayed on a screen on the mobile laser-tag equipment or other fixed screens.

[0020] Thus in a preferred form of the method each user has a laser tag mobile device, having a screen being configured to display on the screen a dynamic in-game record, the method including displaying that record instantaneously and/or as a running total. In a further preferred form of the method each user has a laser tag mobile device having an audible output of a record during game play and the method involves an automated announcement of the record corresponding to the particular game event occurring. The device in this example may have one or both a screen output and an audible output.

[0021] The number of redemption points awarded for various actions may have a random component in addition to a fixed component.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] In order that the present invention may be more readily understood and be put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawing which illustrates non-limiting preferred embodiments of the invention and wherein:-

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of the redemption points system for laser-tag games according to the present invention and employing the method; Figure 2 is a schematic plan view as an example of an arena; Figure 3 is a hardware layout of a preferred system according to the repent invention; Figures 4 and 5 are a respective flow diagram and display and audio schematic for real time ingame communication of a running total by screen and event by audio.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS SHOWN IN THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Referring to Figure 1, there is shown an embodiment of the redemption points system for laser-tag games 10 according to the present invention. The system 10 in this embodiment is for a laser-tag game capable of awarding redemption points to laser-tag players based on their individual performance and actions during the game.

[0024] Mobile laser-tag equipment 11 is activated with a card or other identifier 15 via the embedded card reader 12. The card 15 in this embodiment is in the form of a plastic card with a machine readable identification code 16. The card 15 may take another form having an identification code 16 which can be read by a machine. Examples of such identification codes are a barcode, RFID tag, text/numeric reference or other mechanism.

[0025] The mobile laser-tag equipment 11 is in wireless communication with the laser-tag game controller 18 via the wireless base station 17. Information passed from the mobile laser-tag equipment 11 to the game controller 18 includes the machine readable card identification code 16 in addition to all the actions the mobile laser-tag equipment takes during gameplay.

[0026] During gameplay the game controller 18 processes all actions and events received from the mobile laser-tag equipment 11 and determines when redemption points should be awarded based upon criteria such as the player reaching certain score thresholds, interaction with particular arena targets or performance of other specific actions. The redemption points are accumulated and linked to the machine readable identification code 16 that was used to activate the corresponding mobile laser-tag equipment 11. Game events may include the following:

A player fires a shot with their laser-gun, but does not hit anything.

A player fires a shot with their laser-gun, and hits another player.

A player fires a shot with their laser-gun, and hits an arena target.

A player is deactivated - this causes their laser-gun to be disabled for a period.

[0027] These game events are communicated from the mobile laser-tag equipment 11 to the laser-tag game controller 18 via the wireless base station 17.

[0028] The laser-tag game controller 18 processes the game events individually. Each game event may award the laser-tag player some score. The laser-tag game controller 18 also determines when a composite action (constituting multiple game events) has occurred. Some composite actions may award additional scores as well as redemption points.

[0029] Score thresholds are where players start each laser-tag game with a score of zero and accumulate score during their gameplay. As they reach or exceed various score thresholds, they are awarded a corresponding number of redemption points. See the following table for an example:

Score threshold Redemption points awarded

500 10

5000 20

10000 25

[0030] Arena targets are automated devices that are present within the laser-tag playing arena which can be interacted with by players. This interaction can be via the player shooting at the target (with their laser-gun), or it may be enough for the player to be in the proximity of the target. Some arena targets may be more difficult to shoot than others. Some arena targets may shoot back at the players in their vicinity.

[0031] Some actions involving arena targets will award redemption points, for example:

Action Redemption points awarded

Shoot "easy" arena target 3 times in a row 15

Shoot "hard" arena target 5 times in a row 50

"Capture" an arena target by staying in the vicinity 10 for 15 seconds

[0032] Other sufficiently notable composite actions will award redemptions points when performed by the player, for example,

Action Redemption points awarded

Player shoots 3 opponents without being shot 5 themself

Player shoots 5 opponents within 20 seconds 20

Player shoots10 opponents without missing a shot 30

[0033] The game controller 18 may be configured to include a random component as well as a fixed component when awarding redemption points for various actions and events during a game.

[0034] An example of this is:

Instead of awarding a fixed number of 50 redemption points in a particular circumstance, this number can instead be calculated as 10 + X where X is a random number uniformly distributed over the interval 0 to 90 inclusive. This would mean that the number of redemption points would vary from 10 to 100 with a mean value of 55.

[0035] The values 10, 0 and 90 would be configurable by the venue operator to suit their requirements. This would add another level to the game experience.

[0036] When a player earns redemption points an audible sound effect and/or speech message may be generated to notify them. The audible sound effect and/or speech message can be produced via an audio speaker 14 in the mobile laser-tag equipment 11 and/or via a fixed audio speaker 20.

[0037] When a player earns redemption points a visual graphic may be immediately displayed to notify them. This visual graphic may be presented on an embedded display screen 13 present on the mobile laser-tag equipment 11 or on other fixed display screens 19 inside or outside of the arena. In addition to the immediate notification, the embedded screen 13 and the fixed screens 19 may also show an ongoing per-player total of the redemption points accumulated in the game so far.

[0038] At the end of the game, the mobile laser-tag equipment 11 may announce the total number of redemption points accumulated by the corresponding player via a speech message delivered by the embedded speaker 14.

[0039] Upon completion of the game, the laser-tag game controller 18 transfers the accumulated redemption points and corresponding machine readable identification code 16 to the redemption points database 21. This information may be stored in a database table, for example:

Machine Readable Card Identification Accumulated Redemption Points Code 16

000123456 500

000567891 450

000654321 100

[0040] Since all laser-tag venues are different, the thresholds, the number of redemption points awarded and all other numeric parameters listed above can be adjusted by the venue operator to meet their individual needs.

[0041] Various actions as used herein to refer to one or more of (a) score thresholds, (b) interaction with particular arena targets, and (c) specific actions. These individual terms have been described above.

[0042] Processing of game events and determining redemption points awarded, on the basis of score thresholds, interaction with particular arena targets or performance of specific actions, uses a redemption points database arranged to store the identification code and redemption points awarded. A typical process is given in the following EXAMPLE and this shows a typical application of this process component:

EXAMPLE - from gameplay sequence dynamic allocation of redemption points.

[0043] Events in the following table occur in sequence, at the pace of the player as they play the laser-tag game.

Total Total Redemption Game event Description Score Points

Player presents Machine readable identification code 16 0 0 card or smart sent to laser-tag game controller 18 via device 15 to card mobile laser-tag equipment 11 and reader 12 wireless base-station 17.

Player shoots 200 0 an opponent Game event sent to laser-tag game controller 18 via wireless base-station 17. Score increased by 200.

Player shoots Game event sent to laser-tag game 400 0 another controller 18 via wireless base-station opponent 17. Score increased by 200.

Player is shot by Game event sent to laser-tag game 400 0 an opponent controller 18 via wireless base-station 17.

Player shoots Game event sent to laser-tag game 600 10 an opponent controller 18 via wireless base-station 17. Score increased by 200. This causes a score threshold to be reached, awarding 10 redemption points (see the following table for this process).

Player shoots Game event sent to laser-tag game 600 10 "easy" arena controller 18 via wireless base-station 17. target, 1sttime

Player shoots Game event sent to laser-tag game 600 10 "easy" arena controller 18 via wireless base-station 17. target, 2nd time

Player shoots Game event sent to laser-tag game 1600 25 "easy" arena controller 18 via wireless base-station 17. target, 3 rd time in Score increased by 1000. This interaction a row with a particular arena target awards 15 redemption points (see the following table for this process).

Player is shot by Game event sent to laser-tag game 1600 25 an opponent controller 18 via wireless base-station 17.

Player shoots Game event sent to laser-tag game 1800 25 an opponent controller 18 via wireless base-station 17. Score increased by 200.

Player shoots Game event sent to laser-tag game 2000 25 an opponent controller 18 via wireless base-station 17. Score increased by 200.

Player shoots Game event sent to laser-tag game 2200 30 an opponent controller 18 via wireless base-station 17. Score increased by 200. This specific compound action (shoot 3 opponents without being shot themself) awards 5 redemption points (see the following table for this process).

Game ends The laser-tag game controller 18 sends a 2200 30 message event back to audio speaker 14 via wireless base-station 17 and mobile laser-tag equipment 11 causing a sound effect and a speech message stating "You collected a total of 30 redemption points!" The total of 30 accumulated redemption points and the machine readable identification code 16 are transferred from laser-tag game controller 18 to redemption points database 21.

[0044] Whenever redemption points are awarded, whether that be due to a score threshold being reached, interaction with a particular arena target, or performance of a specific action, the following steps occur. The number of redemption points awarded is denoted by N.

The laser-tag game controller 18 sends a message event back to audio speaker 14 via wireless base station 17 and mobile laser-tag equipment 11 causing a sound effect and a speech message stating "N redemption point(s) collected".

The laser-tag game controller 18 plays a sound effect and speech message over fixed audio speaker 20 announcing "N redemption point(s) collected".

The laser-tag game controller 18 sends a message event back to display screen 13 via wireless base station 17 and mobile laser-tag equipment 11 causing a visual graphic to be displayed on display screen 13 showing "N redemption point(s) collected".

The laser-tag game controller 18 displays a visual graphic on fixed display screen 19 showing "N redemption points collected".

[0045] Figure 2 illustrates an example of an arena layout 22 with targets 23 marked as "X" and players 24 shown as stick figures amongst various obstacles 25. The above describes essentially the local application of the present invention.

[0046] Figure 3 illustrates the wider application to remote and cloud based internet systems 26. In this case the local game controller 18 is part of a server computer system 27. The solid arrows 28 represent wireless communication. The lightning bolt arrows 29 represent in game targeting with guns 30, vests 31 and fixed targets 32.

[0047] A mobile phone app showing in game and end of game scores corresponding to each game device are represented at 33. Spectators may be able to "watch" the score activity of any player via their own mobile phone and this is represented at 34.

[0048] All this activity is at a "venue" 35 which may communicate with a central remote server and database 36 which in turn may operate with other similar venues 37.

[0049] Thus the database need not be local or could be mirrored and likewise some of the other functionality may be remote for all venues and records may be cross referenced for leaderboard functions and similar. Venues may then be able to reciprocate on rewards and so on. While the database may be configured to only hold an ongoing balance for each user individual game event breakdown may be included in a wider database as may a history of user game activity giving rise to more complex reports.

[0050] Figures 4 and 5 illustrate an example whereby a particular game event in this case, hitting an opponent is distinguished by the gun fire and the immediate recording of a hit on an opponents vest, this is reckoned to be a hit, the code is allocated in terms of the reward table and the tally updated and this then automatically triggers the initiation of the display and audio outputs back to the user device screen and speaker symbolised in Figure 5.

[0051] Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative example of the present invention, many variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the broad ambit and scope of the invention as herein set forth in the following claims. Details of some possible variants follow.

[0052] Although a card and card reader are the typical implementation, a smart device (such as a mobile phone or smart watch) might be a substitute for the card in the future. This is similar to how contactless payments started with credit cards only, but later smart devices gained this capability.

[0053] The "card reader" 12 in the "mobile laser-tag equipment" 11 is not necessarily aware that it is reading a smart device rather than a plastic card. This is because the smart device is emulating a card and providing the machine readable ID in the same way that a card would.

[0054] Thus a "card reader" 12 could read as an example only of "machine readable identification code" 16 from a card, it was also capable of reading a "machine readable identification code" from a mobile phone or other smart device or other equivalent future variant (eg facial recognition). This ID function could be indirect via for example a mobile phone App.

Claims

1. A method comprising: accessing, via laser tag mobile devices, comprising at least one processor, user identifications; a mobile device identifier enabling each laser tag mobile device to be associated with a user; enabling, via each user's laser tag mobile device, verification of game events as corresponding to a recordable event; a game controller computing device having at least one processor and an associated database of data being information of recorded verified events corresponding to the users; automatically determining via the computing device and the database, information of verified events and generating from the verified events at least one record for each user; and communicating, via the users' laser tag mobile device or other output to the user, the said record or a further record derived from said record.

2. A redemption points system for laser-tag games employing the method of claim 1 wherein players are awarded redemption points for game events within the game, comprising mobile laser-tag equipment fitted with a reader arranged to read a machine readable identification code, a wireless communication link arranged to send and receive data information regarding the identification code and laser-tag game events, a game controller arranged to receive the data from the wireless link, process game events and determine redemption points awarded on the basis of score thresholds, interaction with particular arena targets or performance of specific actions, a redemption points database arranged to store the identification code and redemption points awarded and to provide an output of the redemption points to a user.

3. The system according to claim 2 further having an audible sound effect and/or speech message to indicate when redemption points are awarded.

4. The system according to claim 2 or claim 3 further having a visual graphic and/or an audible speech message, the visual graphic being to indicate how many redemption points have been awarded, displayed on a screen on the mobile laser-tag equipment or other fixed screens, the audible speech message being at the end of the laser-tag game announcing the total redemption points awarded to a player for that game.

5. The system according to any one of claims 2-4 wherein the number of redemption points awarded for game events has a random component in addition to a fixed component.