NL1028975C2 - Multi-player recreational activity e.g. game, practicing device, has wireless communication unit provided in game processing device and game interaction device for transmitting and receiving game action signals - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has game interaction devices in which each device includes a game action input unit arranged for receiving multiple game actions that are input by a player. A game processing device (12) includes a display unit for displaying a course of the game as a result of the game actions input by multiple players. A wireless communication unit (13) is provided in the processing device and the interaction device for transmitting and receiving the game action signals.

Description

Short indication: Device for practicing a relaxation activity with several players, such as playing a game.

5 DESCRIPTION

The invention relates to a system for jointly practicing a relaxation activity with several players, such as playing a game comprising i) a plurality of game interaction devices, each operable by a player, each comprising game action input means adapted to player inputting one or more game actions, as well as game action signal generating means adapted to generate and output one or more game action signals in response to the game actions entered by the relevant player; Ii) a game processing device comprising: a) game action signal receiving means adapted to receive one or more game action signals issued by the game-operable devices interacting with the players; b) game processing means adapted to process the received game action signals and to influence the course of the game to be played jointly by the multiple players in response thereto; and c) display means adapted to display the course of the game as a result of the game actions entered by the multiple players.

With such a system where several players can play a relaxation activity such as a game, the course of the game is partly determined by the game actions performed by the different players. When playing a relaxation activity together, it is often considered that the competition aspect is very important and it is also important for the system that the peel processing device plays the game actions generated by the players on a neutral, that is to say fair, be handled in a manner that An unfair processing of the different game action signals of the different players in which one or more players have an apparent advantage over the other players is undesirable, because an unfair, i.e. a partisan, handling of the different game actions gives the game system its functionality makes you lose.

In the current systems in which several players can interactively practice a joint relaxation activity, such as a game, the communication between the different players and the game processing device proceeds in such a way that there can be no question of a fast, impartial, game action processing.

It is an object of the invention to obviate these drawbacks and to provide a game system according to the preamble, which makes it possible to play a relaxation activity, such as a game, in a simple and uncomplicated manner with multiple persons (players) and in an honest, error-free manner. .

According to the invention, the system is characterized in that, for outputting and receiving the game action signals, the game interaction devices and the game processing device are provided with wirelessly functioning communication means.

More specifically, in one embodiment, the game processing device comprises communication channel setting means for setting a communication channel for wireless communication with the game interactive devices, wherein furthermore each game interaction device comprises communication channel detection means for detecting the communication channel setting means detected by the communication channel setting means set communication channel for wireless communication with the game processor.

A fair manner of multi-player practice of the relaxation activity is achieved in that the 1028975 3 game-active signal receiver and a game action system clock and the game interaction devices each comprise a game interaction system clock and each game interaction device includes clock synchronization means adapted to synchronize the game interaction system clock with the game action system clock. In this way the players practice the activity, for example a game in the same time dimension, and it is prevented that one or more players are favored.

More specifically, the game action signal receiving means comprise register setting means, arranged for setting a register, in which active game interaction devices which are in communication connection with the game action signal receiving means can be recorded. This makes it easy to indicate to the system which and how many players actively practice the relaxation activity together.

The register setting means can be arranged for assigning a unique registration information feature to each active game interaction device.

A completely fair practice of the relaxation activity is realized in that, according to the invention, each game action signal 20 generated by the game action signal generating means is composed of at least one game action information feature and a game action time information feature generated by the relevant game interaction system clock. In particular, the inclusion of a time indication in each game action of the player results in a fair and chronological settlement of the game action by the system, so that an unexpected advantageous advantage of one player relative to another player is prevented.

Furthermore, each generated game action signal may comprise the unique registration information feature, so that a proper identification of each game action with respect to other game actions is achieved.

For the purpose of a rapid reading of the various generated game actions of the different players, the game action signal receiving means are arranged in accordance with 1028975 for sequentially receiving and generated by each active game interaction device. issued game action signals and, depending on the relevant | deliver game action time information features chronologically over time to the game processing means.

More specifically, for the purpose of receiving the issued game action signals, the game action signal receiving means are arranged for generating and sequentially sending a game action request signal to each active game interaction device, where, in the absence of the reception of a game action signal, the game action signal receiving means after sending a game action request signal, the register setting means are arranged to deactivate the relevant game action requesting device.

This last feature ensures smooth operation of the system because in this way the relaxation activity delaying inactive players can be further ignored by the system.

In a first functional embodiment the game action signal receiving means as well as the game processing means are included in one housing, while in another embodiment the game action signal receiving means and the game processing means are each accommodated in separate housings which are in communication connection with one another, furthermore the game processing means a game processing system clock and the game action signal receiving means comprises clock synchronization means adapted to synchronize the game interaction system clock with the game processing system clock of the game processing means.

The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to a drawing, which drawing successively shows in:

Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a system 30 according to the invention;

Figure 2 shows another embodiment of a system according to the invention;

Figure 3 shows yet another embodiment of a system according to the invention;

Figure 4 shows the structure of a signal as used in the application of a system according to the invention.

For a better understanding of the invention, the corresponding parts shown in the various figures are indicated by identical reference numerals in the description of the figures below.

In Figure 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a first embodiment of the system according to the invention for practicing a relaxation activity with multiple players.

The term relaxation activity can be understood to mean, for example, an action game to be played in a competition context, but also a fitness program in which several players in a competition context have to complete a fitness program or trajectory.

The system 10 is composed of a game processing device 12 as well as game interaction devices 11a-11h connected therewith in communication connection. The number of game interaction devices 11a-11h is hereby indefinite, there may be two, but also more of them. Each game interaction device 11a-11h is operated by a player and is provided with game action input means (not shown) which are arranged for the player in question to enter one or more game actions.

These input means (not shown) can for instance be actuatable buttons or levers, comparable with a joystick or mouse pointer. The game-interacting device 11 can for instance be designed as a mat which can be placed on a surface and in which a plurality of game-action input means which can be energized with the foot of the player are arranged, the latter being designed as contact points in the mat.

Furthermore, each game interaction device 11 is provided with game action signal generating means (also not shown), which generate and output game action signals in response to the game actions performed by the player.

The game action signal 16 generated by each game interaction device 11 is received via wireless communication means 13 by the game processing device 12 by means of so-called game action signal receiving means 17. The game action signals 16 generated by the player and received by the signal receiving means 17 are passed on to game processing means 19 which are adapted to process these game action signals 16 and to influence the course of the game or activity to be played jointly by the players in response thereto.

In a specific embodiment, the game processing means 19 may be designed as a computer provided with a storage system for a computer program and a central processing unit such as a memory processor. The game processing device 12 furthermore comprises display means 20 adapted to display the course of the game as a result of the game action signals 16 input by the players. The display means 20 can be designed as a screen.

In order to bring the multiple players into communication connection with the game processing device 12 in a correct manner, communication channel setting means 17 'are provided which set a communication channel for wireless communication with the game interaction devices 11. To this end, a communication channel 25 channel setting means 17 'set communication channel detected by each game interaction device at the start of playing the relaxation activity, each game interaction device 11 being provided with so-called communication channel detection means (not shown). A safe but above all stable wireless connection is thus realized between the various game interaction devices 11 with the game processing device 12.

1028975 7

Although according to the invention an important aspect of the device is the wireless communication aspect, it is even more important that the different players can communicate in a similar manner with the game processing device 12 and that therefore one of the players has no advantage over the other players while practicing relaxation activity. To this end, it is desirable that all players (all game interaction units 11) have the same time dimension.

To this end, both the game interaction units 11 and the game processing device 12 are provided with a system clock 14a and 15a, wherein furthermore each game interaction unit 11 is provided with clock synchronization means 14b which synchronizes the system clock 14a of each game interaction unit 11 with the system clock 15a of the game processor.

For a better handling of the game action signals 16 by the game processing device 12, register setting means 18 are furthermore provided, which register a register in which all active game interaction devices 11, and therefore participating in the relaxation activities, are recorded. For this purpose, the register 20 setting means 18 assigns to each active game interaction unit 11 recognized by the game processing device 12 a unique registration information feature.

The wireless communication between the various game interaction units as well as the game processing device 12 will take place partly on the basis of this unique registration information feature in order to allow the various players to participate in the entertainment activity impartially and with equal opportunities.

For the purpose of wireless communication between the game interaction units 11 and the game processing device 12, each game action signal 16 generated by the game action signal generating means of each game interaction device 11 is composed of a plurality of information features. At least one information feature relates to the so-called game action information feature 43 (see Figure 4) which contains information about the game action performed by the player. The game action may be, for example, pressing a button or moving a joystick lever.

Another information feature of the game action signal 16 relates to a time information feature 42, so that each game action signal 16 also includes a time of the moment at which the game action was taken by the relevant player.

In addition, each generated game action signal 16 can also comprise the unique registration information feature 41, so that the game processing device can also be conclusively determined by which game interaction device 11 the game action signal 16 has been generated and delivered.

For operating the multi-player playing or practicing a relaxation activity, the various game interaction devices 11 communicate with the communication channel setting means and 17 'of the game action signal receiving means 17 for setting a communication signal for wireless communication. The register setting means and 18 set up a register in which all active game interaction devices 11 are registered by means of a unique registration information feature 41.

Furthermore, by means of the clock synchronizing means 14b, the system clock 14a of each game interaction device 11 is synchronized with the system clock 15a of the game processing device, so that each player participates impartially with the same time dimension in playing the game or practicing the relaxation activity.

While practicing the activity, the players will generate game action signals with the aid of their game interaction devices, which signals are composed of the assigned registration information feature, the time at which the game action was performed by the relevant player, and information about the game. action itself.

The game signal receiving means 17 will, in sequential order (see Figure 1), control all active, i.e., played, game interaction units 11a-11h by generating and sending a game action request signal to each game interaction device 11. The receipt of such a game action request signal by the relevant game interaction device 11 results in the output of the generated game action signal 16 by the game interaction device 11. The game action signal receiving means 17 will pass the various game action signals 16 received in sequential order to the game processing means 19, such that the received game action signals 16 are now in the correct order of time, i.e. in the order of the time that the game action is made by the player, passed to the game processing means 19 where the game action signals 16 are processed and thus influence the course of the game or the relaxation activity.

It is quite possible that the control of the various game interaction units 11 in sequential order by the game action signal receiving means 17 results in the sequential reception of generated game action signals 16, which game action signals 16, however, are not received in time-chronological manner. However, because each game action signal 16 has a time information feature 42 that shows the time at which the game action was performed by the player, all game action signals received in sequential order are passed on to the game processing means 19 in the correct time sequence.

This method of signal processing results in an impartial and fair manner of performing the relaxation activity on playing the game by the different players, by thus preventing a player who has previously performed a game action earlier due to an unexpected later release of the relevant game action signal 16 at the game action signal receiving means 17 is processed by the game processing means 19 at an unfair (read: later) time.

That is, the sequential order in which the game action signal receiving means 17 interrogates the various game interaction devices 11 for outputting the game action signals 16 may be different from the final chronologically timed processing of the game action signals 16 by the game processing means 19.

In an embodiment as shown in Figure 2, both the game action signal receiving means 17 and the game processing means 19 are accommodated in the same housing 12, while in another embodiment as shown in Figure 3, the game action signal receiving means 17 as well as the game processing means 19 are accommodated in different housings 12 'and 12, respectively. 19 'are housed. Here too the communication between the signal receiving means 17 and the game processing means 19 takes place wirelessly or by means of a wired system.

Because the final processing of the game action signals 16 takes place by the game processing means 19, the game processing means 19 are also provided with a system clock 21a in the embodiment in Figure 3. For the purpose of synchronizing the system clock 15a with the system clock 21a of the game action signal receiving means 17, the latter are provided with synchronization means 15b for synchronizing the system clock 15a with the system clock 21a. Figure 4 shows the structure of a game action signal 16 in different information features, wherein a first feature with a length of 8 bits relates to the unique registration information feature 41 that is assigned by the game action signal receiving means 17 to each active game interaction device 11. Another information characteristic 42 from which a game action signal 16 is constructed relates to the time at which the game action was taken by the relevant player 1028975 11, which time is measured from the synchronization time point between the various game devices with the system clock 15a of the game action signal receiving means or the system clock 21a of the game processing means 19 (see Figure 3). Furthermore, 16 bits 5 are reserved for another information feature 43 that specifically contains information about the game action performed by the relevant player.

The game action may, for example, have a game button pressed or not or move a joystick handle or a combination thereof in a certain direction. The game action information feature 10 may thus contain multiple status information features of the various buttons of the game interaction device 11.

It will be clear that with a system as described above, different players can jointly participate in a certain relaxation activity or can play the game together in an honest manner.

20 10 || 9 7 5

Claims (13)

1. System for jointly practicing a relaxation activity with several players, such as playing a game comprising i) a plurality of game interaction devices, each operable by a player, each comprising game action input means adapted for the player in question to enter one or more game actions, as well as game action signal generating means adapted to generate and output one or more game action signals in response to the game actions entered by the relevant player; ii) a game processing apparatus comprising: a) game action signal receiving means adapted to receive one or more game action signals issued by the game-operable game interaction devices; B) game processing means adapted to process the received game action signals and to influence them in response! of the course of the game to be played jointly by the multiple players; and c) display means adapted to display the course of the game as a result of the game actions entered by the plurality of players, characterized in that, for outputting and receiving the game action signals, the game interaction devices and the game processing apparatus are provided with wirelessly functioning communication means. A game system according to claim 1, characterized in that the game processing device comprises communication channel setting means for setting up a communication channel for wireless communication with the game interacting devices. 3. A gaming system according to claim 2, characterized in that each game interaction device comprises communication channel detection means and for detecting the communication channel set up by the communication channel setting means for wireless communication with the game processing means. nri chti ng. 4. Game system according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the game action signal receiving means comprise a game action system clock and the game interaction devices each have a game interaction system clock and wherein each game interaction device comprises clock synchronization means, arranged for synchronizing the game interaction system clock with the game action system clock. 5. Game system according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the game action signal receiving means comprise register setting means, arranged for setting a register, in which active game interaction devices that are in communication connection can be registered with the game action signal receiving means . A game system according to claim 5, characterized in that the register setting means are adapted to assign a unique registration information feature to each active game interaction device. 7. Game system as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, characterized in that each game action signal generated by the game action signal generating means is composed of at least one game action information feature and a game action time information feature generated by the relevant game interaction system clock . 8. Game system according to claim 7 in dependence on claim 6, characterized in that each generated game action signal comprises the unique registration information feature. 9. Game system as claimed in claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the game action signal receiving means are arranged for sequentially receiving game action signals generated and delivered by each active game interaction device and chronologically in dependence on the relevant game action time information characteristics handing over the time to the game processing means. 10. Game system according to claim 9, characterized in that for the purpose of receiving the issued game action signals, the game action signal receiving means are adapted to generate and sequentially send a game action request signal to each active game interaction device. 11. Game system as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that if the game action signal receiving means fail to receive a game action signal after sending a game action request signal, the register setting means are arranged to deactivate the relevant game interaction. -design. A game system according to one or more of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the game action signal receiving means and the game processing means are included in one housing. 13. Game system according to one or more of the claims 1-11, characterized in that the game action signal receiving means and the game processing means are each accommodated in separate housings in communication connection with each other, wherein furthermore the game processing means comprises a game processing system clock and the game action 20 signal receiving means comprises clock synchronizing means, adapted to synchronize the game interaction system clock with the game processing system clock of the game processing means. 25 1 028 97 5