NL2007407C2

NL2007407C2 - Method of performing multi-user operations on a tablet type computer, computer program product and an arrangement comprising a tablet type computer and game pieces.

Info

Publication number: NL2007407C2
Application number: NL2007407A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Michiel Rademakers
Original assignee: Konink Jumbo B V
Priority date: 2011-09-13
Filing date: 2011-09-13
Publication date: 2012-09-12
Also published as: WO2013039388A1

Description

METHOD OF PERFORMING MULTI-USER OPERATIONS ON A TABLET TYPE COMPUTER, COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT AND AN ARRANGEMENT COMPRISING A TABLET TYPE COMPUTER AND GAME PIECES.

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The present invention is directed to a method of performing multi user operations on a tablet type computer, the computer comprises a touch sensitive display screen of a capacitive type for receiving input for 10 operating the computer. In addition, according to a second aspect the invention is directed to a computer program product for performing the method. According to a third aspect, the invention is directed to an arrangement comprising a tablet type computer, and to a game piece for use in such an arrangement.

15 Over the past years, tablet type computers have become very popular and have replaced the laptop type computer as the preferred choice for a number of activities. Amongst others, tablet type computers are used as e-readers and for surfing the world wide web. The popularity of tablet type computers is due to their slim size and low weight. In addition, 20 the table type computers make use of a touch sensitive display screen for receiving input for operating the computer. In combination with the intuitive graphical user interface of the operating system, the tablet type computers are easy to use for a large public.

One of the most popular uses of table type computers is 25 gaming. Without using any additional input means, a user of a tablet type computer may use the touch sensitive screen and the (often built-in) acceleration/gravity sensor for controlling the game played on the tablet computer.

A general disadvantage of playing games on computers is 30 that such games may often be played by only one player at the same time, or two or more players with just as many computers, connected using a network, such as the internet, or through wireless data communication.

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Although playing a multiplayer game is possible, even remotely, the possibilities for direct personal communication between players are limited. Therefore playing a game on a computer, even if it is a multiplayer game, is considered to have its limitations from a social point of view.

5 On the other hand, playing classic board games with a number of users is considered to be mostly a social event, stimulating the interpersonal relation between the players. However, the technical disadvantages of board games are, as compared to computer games, evident: there is no interactivity between the players and the game itself. 10 Any special effects, if at all possible to provide, requires the help of additional appliances such as DVD’s played on a nearby television, or battery powered game appliances coming with the game itself.

It is an object of the present invention to resolve the above mentioned disadvantages of the prior art, and to provide a method of 15 performing multi-user operations on a table type computer, wherein a number of users are enabled to play a game on a computer without limitations on the possibilities for communication between the users — in particular providing equivalent or even the same possibilities for communication between the players as in case of classic board games.

20 The above mentioned objects of the invention are achieved in that there is provided a method of performing multiuser operations on a tablet type computer, wherein said computer comprises a touch sensitive display screen of a capacitive type for receiving input for operating said computer, said touch sensitive display cooperating with a plurality of 25 electrically conductive game pieces detectable by said capacitive type touch sensitive display screen, wherein said game pieces are electrically passive and electrically indiscriminate, the method comprising operating said computer for interacting with a plurality of users, said users participating in a game performed on the computer, wherein said users operate the 30 computer through said electrically conductive game pieces, the method comprising the steps of: a playing user of said users placing at least one of said game pieces associated with the playing user onto the touch sensitive 3 display screen in a playing position; the computer detecting said playing position through said display screen, and the computer associating the detected playing position with said game piece of said playing user; and the computer storing the playing position associated with said game piece of 5 said playing user in a memory unit; wherein the step of associating the playing position is performed by said computer either in a time dependent manner by associating a detected moment of placing of the game piece on the playing position with an expected playing time for said playing user, or in a location dependent manner by associating the playing position on with 10 an expected position for said playing user.

The present invention makes use of tablet type computers, in combination with electrically indiscriminate game pieces. The game pieces are preferably not powered and electrically indiscriminate, since in that case the game pieces can be designed to be relatively small in size (e.g.

15 a footprint of the contact surface (bottom side of the piece) having a diameter >4,5 mm). In other words, preferably the game pieces are not powered by any external power source such as a battery, and the game pieces do not provide an identification signal, nor distribute identification data wirelessly.

20 The game pieces must be conductive in order to be detectable by the capacitive type touch screen. Since most tablet type computers make use of capacitive type touch sensitive display screens, electrically conductive game pieces can be detected by the computer if they are held by the playing user, for example between his or her fingers.

25 Holding the game piece between the fingers of the user allows for an electric current to flow through the fingers of the user. This causes an electrostatic disturbance that can be detected by the computer through the capacitive type touch sensitive display screen, allowing the computer to determine a playing position.

30 It is however not possible for the computer to identify the playing user in a direct manner. Since the game pieces are electrically indiscriminate (and preferably not powered), the computer does not 4 distinguish between the different game pieces through interaction with the game piece itself. Therefore, the computer requires some other means of associating the detected playing position with one of the users. Without resolving this issue, the computer will not be able to keep track of the game.

5 For enabling the computer to add value to the game in terms of interactivity, keeping track of where the game pieces of each user are is important. This information can be used by the computer to enhance the game with interactive features such as multimedia feedback during the game, e.g. in response to certain game situations.

10 According to the invention, associating the playing positions with users may be performed by the computer either in a time dependent manner or in a location dependent manner. In the time dependent manner, the moment of playing the game piece is detected and compared with an expected playing time for the playing user. If the game piece is played 15 within the expected playing time, the playing position will be associated with the playing user to which the expected playing time is assigned.

If associating the playing position is performed in a location dependent manner, the detected playing position is simply evaluated by comparing it with the expected positions for a number of respective users. 20 Matching the playing position with a certain expected position allows the computer to associate the playing position with the playing user, and to store the playing position in the memory unit of the computer. As will be appreciated, it is also possible to use a combination of the above described methods of associating the playing position to a playing user, both in a 25 location dependent manner and in a time dependent manner.

The present invention allows the playing of a game by multiple players through a single table type computer. Since the game is played on a single tablet type computer, the users are not limited in their communication with other users playing the game. The users can interact 30 with each other as is the case with any classic board game. This allows for example to play a classic board game on a tablet type computer with multiple players, and to enhance the game with all kinds of multimedia 5 events, such as playing sounds and video’s or exchanging data through the internet. This new way of using a tablet type computer to play multimedia games, such as classic board games, adds to the entertainment experienced by the players of the game. Moreover, the limitations with respect to 5 interpersonal communication encountered when playing conventional multiplayer games using multiple computers has been resolved.

Associating the playing positions in a location dependent manner can be performed in different ways. It is possible to associate the playing positions by the computer assigning to each user one or more 10 candidate positions on the display screen, such as to match the detected playing position with one of these candidate positions for linking it to a playing user. For example in a board game, a number of squares in the play field may be candidate positions that may be assigned to a certain user.

As another alternative, the computer may assign a playing area to 15 each user, reserving the playing area exclusively for that user. As soon as the computer detects the playing of a position in that area, it will assign the playing position to that specific user for which the playing area is reserved. This allows the computer, for example, to divide the full surface of the play field into a number of areas wherein each user can freely move his 20 associated game piece or game pieces. This also allows two or more users to operate their game pieces simultaneously during a game, as long as these users stay within their assigned playing area. The computer, in that case, discriminates between motion of game pieces within each area independent from any motion on-going in other areas. An example of this may be the 25 playing of air hockey, where the computer divides the play field in two areas, assigning each area to one of the users. Of course, many other type of multiplayer games may be provided according to this principle.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the game is a turn based game, in the sense that the playing user operates his or her 30 game piece during a turn defined by a time frame assigned by the computer to the playing user. In this case, the computer detects the playing of the game piece on the playing position during that turn, and associates the 6 playing position to the playing user to which the turn is assigned, i.e. in a time dependent manner. In a turn based game, the computer expects the playing user to play his piece within that turn. The duration of the turn may be pre-defined by the computer, or may last until a game piece is 5 played by the playing user (i.e. once a new playing position is detected, the turn automatically ends - optionally after confirmation by the playing user). A combination of these possibilities may of course also be applied.

According to another embodiment the step of detecting the playing position, associating the playing position and storing the playing 10 position is performed for each turn of the game. This allows the computer to keep track of the game. According to a specific embodiment, the step of storing includes a step of logging the playing position for a number of turns for keeping a history log of the game. Keeping at least the last playing position in memory will, according to a further embodiment, provide a reset 15 possibility to the users of the game, in case anything will happen that may disturb the game. For example, when the game pieces fall off the touch screen due to an accidental movement of the tablet computer, the computer may enable the users to recall a recorded playing position stored in the memory unit, for correcting the accident and play on.

20 According to a further embodiment, the game pieces comprise a screen contact service for placement of the game pieces onto the touch sensitive screen. This screen contact service comprises a diameter of at least 4,5 mm or a corresponding service area. It has been experienced that a screen contact service of this size allows for effective detection of 25 each game piece by the computer. Moreover, it has been found experimentally, that a distance between the game pieces of at least 8 mm on the capacitive type touch sensitive screen enables the computer to detect the individual positions of each game piece flawlessly.

According to an alternative embodiment, the screen contact 30 service of a game piece comprises a diameter of at least 1,5 cm. In addition, such game pieces may (with a size of at least 1,5 cm) comprise a screen contact service having a unique distinctive shape for each game piece in the 7 game. It has been experienced that with a service area of at least 1,5 cm, differences in shape or more complex designs of contact services may be uniquely identified by the capacitive type touch sensitive display screen of the computer allowing direct identification of a certain game piece. It will 5 be appreciated by the skilled person that this will enhance the possibilities for playing the game.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a computer program product arranged for performing the method as described above when running on a computer.

10 According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided an arrangement comprising a tablet type computer and a plurality of electrically conductive game pieces for performing multiuser operations on said computer, the computer comprising a touch sensitive display screen of a capacitive type for operating the computer, and wherein the game 15 pieces are detectable by the capacitive type touch sensitive screen for enabling a plurality of users to operate said computer using said game pieces for participating in a game performed on the computer, wherein the game pieces are electrically passive and electrically indiscriminate, and wherein the computer comprises a detection unit for detecting a playing 20 position of at least one of said game pieces which is placed by a playing user of said users on the display screen and which is associated with the playing user, wherein the computer further comprises a processing unit for associating the detected playing position with said game piece of said playing user, and wherein the computer comprises a memory unit for 25 receiving and storing the playing position associated with said game piece of said playing user in said memory unit, wherein the processing unit is arranged for performing the step of associating the playing position either in a time dependent manner by associating the time of placing of the game piece on the playing position with an expected playing time for said playing 30 user, or in a location dependent manner by associating the playing position with an expected position for said playing user.

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According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a game piece for use in a method as described according to the first aspect, wherein the game pieces made of a conductive material such as to be detectable on a touch sensitive screen of a capacitive type.

5 The invention will further be elucidated by description of some specific embodiments thereof, making reference to the attached drawings, wherein: figure 1 illustrates an arrangement according to the third aspect of invention for performing a method according to the first aspect; 10 figure 2 illustrates an exemplary game piece for use in a method or arrangement according to the invention; figure 3 illustrates an embodiment of the method according to the invention, using a time dependent association step in a turn-based game setting; 15 figure 4 illustrates a further embodiment of the method according to the invention, using a combinational time dependent and location dependent association step in a turn-based game setting; figure 5 illustrates an embodiment of the method of the invention using a pure location dependent association step based on assigned playing 20 areas.

Figure 1 illustrates an arrangement according to the present invention comprising a tablet type computer 1, and a plurality of game pieces such as 7 and 8.

The tablet type computer comprises a touch sensitive display screen 25 3 which is of the capacitive type. In a capacitive type touch sensitive screen, any change in the electrostatic field near the surface of the screen is detectable by means of the change in capacitance of the screen. From this, the computer 1 is able to determine the location on the screen where the electrostatic disturbance took place.

30 In the arrangements according to the present invention, the game pieces such as game piece 7 or 8, are made of a conductive material, or at least comprise a conductive material on coating on the surface thereof such 9 as to enable an electric current to flow between the contact surface (not visible, underneath each game piece) and the fingers of the user touching the game piece. Making use of the conductive game pieces, it is no longer necessary for the user to physically touch the touch sensitive screen. By 5 handling the game piece, e.g. game piece 7, a current flows between the contact surface of game piece 7, and the fingers of the handling (playing) user. This causes an electrostatic disturbance on the surface of the touch screen, enabling the computer 1 to identify the exact location of game piece 7 on the touch sensitive screen 3.

10 Once the playing user releases the game piece 7, it is no longer possible for an electric current to flow between the contact surface of game piece 7 and the fingers of the user. Therefore, computer 1 is no longer able to determine the exact position of game piece 7 once game piece 7 is released. In essence, game piece 7 is only visible for computer 1 through the 15 touch sensitive display screen 3 during the time wherein it is handled by the playing user.

In the arrangement shown in Figure 1, on the touch sensitive display screen 3, a play field 4 is depicted. Play field 4 in the present example represents the game board of the classic board game “Stratego”. The play 20 field consists of a number of playable squares or locations, such as location 6. In addition, the play field also contains areas such as area 5 wherein it is not allowed to place a game piece.

The game of Stratego is a turn-based game. This means that each of the players of the game is allowed to play his game pieces only during a 25 time period (turn) assigned to that specific user. For the computer 1 to associate a detected playing position with a playing user, it will be possible to assign the detected playing position to the user assigned to the present turn. The turn wherein the new playing position has been detected. As will be appreciated, for the game of Stratego, each of the two players of the 30 game comprises a plurality of game pieces that may be played each turn. Each user may only play one game piece during each turn. However, for the 10 computer 1 it is preferred to determine both the playing position, but also the last position of the game piece moved.

There are several possibilities for the computer to identify the game piece played. One possibility is to detect not only the playing position (the 5 new position played by the playing user), but also the old position. As soon as the playing user touches for example game piece 7, the computer 1 detects the touching of the touch sensitive screen 3 in the location possessed by game piece 7. This is the old position of game piece 7. The computer may perform a double check by comparing the old position with a position last 10 stored by the computer 1 in a memory unit (not shown). This allows the computer to identify exactly the game piece 7 which is played by the playing user.

If the playing user picks up game piece 7 and places his game piece in a new position, for example position 9, computer 1 is able to detect the 15 new position 9 since at the moment of playing the game piece 7, the playing user still holds his game piece. After placing game piece 7 in a new playing position 9, computer 1 ends the turn of the playing user, and opens a new turn for the opponent player, which may play game piece 8.

The skilled person may appreciate that the registration and 20 association of game pieces and playing positions to a playing user may go wrong, if for example the playing user accidentally drops his game piece 7 while moving it. In that case, computer 1 detects the old position of the game piece thereby identifying the game piece played by the playing user, but will not detect a new playing position 9. The computer may detect this 25 as an error or a violation of the playing rules. In response, the computer may provide feedback through the touch sensitive display screen to the playing users. In addition, the computer may display a message to the playing users that the last known position of the game pieces is to be reestablished, and may for example indicate the last known position of one or 30 more (or all) game pieces on the screen.

Figure 2 illustrates a game piece 10 for use with a method and/or arrangement according to the present invention.

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The game piece 10 comprises a screen contact surface 15 for placing the game piece on a touch sensitive display screen of a capacitive type. In addition, the top part 14 of the game piece 10 is shaped such as to enable easy handling by a user of the game piece 10. The top part 14, the body 12 5 and the contact surface 15 are electrically conductive. This may be achieved by performing the complete game piece 10 from a conductive material. Alternatively, the game piece 10 may also comprise a conductive coating enabling an electric current to flow between the top part 14 and the screen contact surface 15. Any conductive material may be used for providing the 10 game piece, although it will have some advantages in terms of modelling the game pieces to use a conductive polymer based material (e.g. a suitable polymer comprising a dispersed content of conductive particles (e.g. carbon)). Suitable conductive materials for creating the game pieces are known and available to the skilled person, and are not further described 15 here.

The screen contact surface preferably has a diameter of > 4,5 mm in order to be well detectable through the touch screen. The game pieces are preferably not too large in cross section at the contact surface, since this will enable the use of as many as possible game pieces on the touch screen, 20 and at the same time the surface area of the screen can be used more efficiently (making efficient use of the usually high screen resolution). In an alternative embodiment (not shown) the game pieces are however larger than 15 mm in cross section near the contact surface, while in these embodiments, the contact surface has a distinguishable shape. For the 25 shape to be distinguishable, it is preferred to use cross sections of approximately 15 mm or more.

Figure 3 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention. In Figure 3 the method of the present invention starts at step 20.

In step 22, the computer assigns a turn to one of the users/players of 30 the game. In step 24, the playing user handles his game piece, e.g. by placing the game piece onto the game board depicted on the touch sensitive display screen 3 of the computer. The playing position is detected in step 12 26, and in step 28 the detected playing position is associated with the playing user. Since in the present example the game is a turn-based game, associating the detected playing position with the playing user is simply performed by assigning the playing position to the playing user to which 5 the turn is assigned.

In step 30, the detected playing position and associated playing user are stored in a memory unit 2 of the computer. The computer will then perform a step of game management 32, for example for verifying whether the detected playing position corresponds to an allowed position according 10 to the rules of the game. As will be appreciated, the game management or the application of (certain) game rules may be overruled if optionally desired by the playing users. In step 34, the turn of the playing user ends, and the next player is selected by the computer. The method will then continue with step 22, wherein a new turn is assigned to a new playing 15 user. As will be appreciated, dependent on the step of game management (step 32) the outcome may also be that there will not be a next turn and the game ends in step 36.

In Figure 4, an alternative embodiment of a turn-based game is illustrated. In Figure 4, the method starts with step 40. In step 41, the 20 computer defines a number of areas in the playing field, and assigns these areas to each of the playing users. The definition of areas may be performed such that the respective areas do not overlap although this may only be essential in those situations wherein time dependent association of playing positions is likely to fail. This allows the computer to identify the playing 25 user based on whether or not the played position is within a defined area. As will be appreciated, in the present example (explained here and below) associating the playing positions is performed on the basis of both the assigned playing areas (location dependent) and on the assignment of the turns to the playing users (time dependent).

30 In step 42, a new turn is opened and assigned to one of the users/players of the game. The playing user will then in step 44 handle his 13 game piece, e.g. by placing his game piece on the play field in the area assigned to the playing user as an allowable area for playing.

In step 46, the computer detects through the touch sensitive display screen of capacitive type the exact position where the game piece is placed 5 on the touch screen. In step 48 the computer associates the detected playing position with the playing user in a time dependent manner by assigning the played position to the playing user to which the turn is presently assigned. In step 49, the computer checks whether the played position is located in the area assigned to the playing user. If this is not the case, the placing of 10 the game piece in this playing position will not be allowable, and the computer continues with step 59 where the feedback is provided to the user through the touch sensitive display screen. The playing user will then be allowed to perform step 44 again and replace his game piece in an allowed position.

15 If however the played position corresponds to the area assigned to the playing user, the played position is stored in step 50 into the memory unit 2 of the computer. After this, the computer will perform a step of game management in step 52 for applying the rules of the game to the new game situation. In step 54, the turn of the present playing user ends, and a next 20 playing user is selected by the computer after which the computer starts again in step 42 opening the new turn to the selected playing user. It will be appreciated that, dependent on the outcome of step 52, alternatively the computer may end the game in step 56 in case the game has been played and the winner is known.

25 In Figure 5, an alternative embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. In the method of figure 5, associating the playing position to a playing user is completely performed in a location dependent manner. The benefit of the embodiment of figure 5 is that this allows the computer to associate the playing positions of the game pieces of each user 30 independently from each other, and simultaneously. Therefore, the alternative embodiment illustrated in figure 5 allows the computer 1 to enable the playing of action games (e.g. air hockey, tennis, and the like).

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In Figure 5, in step 60 the method starts. In step 62 the computer defines a number of playing areas on the play field and assigns each area to one of the users/players of the game. The computer can now detect and process the action ongoing in each of the defined areas independently. In 5 step 64, each of the players handles his game pieces in his/her assigned playing area. In step 66, a real time or frequently performed position detection is performed by the computer 1, and the movement or action of the game pieces is associated by the computer to the playing user to which the playing area is assigned. The computer constantly performs a process of 10 game management (step 68) during the game, detecting particular gaming events such as the scoring of points or the violation of game rules. Dependent on the game management, the computer may also detect that the game has ended, and will end the process in step 70.

The present invention has been described in terms of some specific 15 embodiments thereof. It will be appreciated that the embodiments shown in the drawings and described here and above are intended for illustrative purposes only, and are not by any manner or means intended to be restrictive on the invention. The context of the invention discussed here is merely restricted by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

A method for performing multi-user operations on a tablet type computer, wherein the computer comprises a capacitive type touch sensitive display screen for receiving input for operating the computer, the touch sensitive display screen cooperating with a plurality electrically conductive game pieces which are detectable by the capacitive-type touch sensitive display screen, in which the game pieces are electrically passive and electrically inseparable, the method comprising operating the computer for interacting with a plurality of users, the users participating in a game being played 10 performed on the computer, in which the users operate the computer by means of the electrically conductive game pieces, the method comprising the steps of: - by a playing user of the user locations of at least one game piece associated with the playing user on the touch-sensitive weather gift screen in a play position; 15. the computer detecting the playing position via the display screen, and associating the detected playing position with the playing piece of the playing user by the computer; and - the computer storing the playing position associated with the playing piece of the playing user in a memory unit; 20. wherein the step of associating the playing position is performed by the computer either in a time-dependent manner by associating a detected moment of placement of the playing piece at the playing position with an expected playing time for the playing user, or at a playing time location dependent manner by associating the playing position with an expected position for the playing user.

The method of claim 1, wherein the step of associating the play positions is performed by the computer in a location dependent manner by assigning to each user one or more candidate positions on the display screen, and associating the detected play position with one of the candidate positions for the playing user.

The method of claim 2, wherein the computer assigns a play area to each user on the display screen, and the computer associates the play position 5 depending on the play area including the play position by associating the play position with the user assigned to the play area comprising the playing position.

The method of claim 3, wherein two or more of the users operate the game pieces simultaneously during the game.

A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the game is a turn-based game in which the playing user controls the playing piece of the playing user during a turn defined by a duration assigned by the computer to the playing user, and wherein the computer placing detects the game piece at the playing position during the playing turn for associating the playing positions in a time-dependent manner.

The method of claim 5, wherein the steps of detecting the play position, associating the play position, and storing the play position are performed for each play turn of the game.

7. Method according to claim 6, wherein the storing step comprises a step of registering the playing positions for a number of playing turns for keeping a history record of the game.

8. Method as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, further comprising a step of allowing users to retrieve stored playing positions stored in the memory unit by the computer.

A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the game pieces comprise a screen contact surface for placement of which on the touch-sensitive screen, and wherein the screen contact surface comprises a diameter of at least 4.5 centimeters.

The method of claim 9, wherein the screen contact surface comprises a diameter of at least 1.5 centimeters.

11. Method as claimed in claim 10, wherein each of the game pieces used by the plurality of users comprises a screen contact surface with a unique distinctive shape, for enabling the computer to identify each game piece on the basis of the shape of the game. screen contact surface.

A computer program product adapted to perform the method according to any one of the preceding claims when it is executed on the computer.

13. Device comprising a tablet type computer and a plurality of electrically conductive game pieces for performing multi-user operations on the computer, the computer comprising a touch-sensitive display screen of a capacitive type for operating the computer, and wherein the game pieces are detectable by a capacitive-type touch-sensitive screen allowing a plurality of users to operate the computer using the game pieces for participating in a game performed on the computer in which the game pieces are electrically passive and electrically indistinguishable, and wherein the computer comprises a detection unit for detecting a playing position of at least one of the playing pieces placed on the display screen by a playing user of the users and associated with the playing user, wherein the computer further comprises a processing unit for associating d the detected playing position with the playing piece of the playing user, and wherein the computer comprises a memory unit for receiving and storing the playing position associated with the playing piece of the playing user in the memory unit, wherein the processing unit is adapted to perform the step of associating the playing position in either a time-dependent manner by associating the moment of placement of the playing piece at the playing position with an expected playing time for the playing user, or in a location-dependent manner by associating the playing position with 30 an expected position for the playing user.

A game piece for use in a method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the game piece is made of a conductive material in order to make it detectable on a touch-sensitive screen of a capacitive type.