PL245134B1 - Interactive board game and way to play the game with the use of interactive board game - Google Patents

Abstract

The interactive board game of the application is characterized by the fact that its board (1) has active fields (3), each of which contains an NFC identifier (4), and each figure (2) contains a microcontroller, an NFC reader/programmer, an antenna and electronic indicator. The NFC reader/programmer and the electronic indicator are connected to the microcontroller, and the NFC reader/programmer is mounted in the base of the figure (2). The method according to the application is characterized by the fact that first, figures (2) are placed on the board (1) and, using NFC readers/programmers for these figures (2), information is read from the NFC identifiers (4) contained in the active fields (3). ) of the board (1), then the information read from the NFC identifiers (4) of the active fields (3) is saved in the memory of the microcontroller of the figure (2) and the corresponding messages are displayed using an electronic indicator, then the position of the figures (2) is changed and using an NFC reader/programmer for each of the figures (2) placed on the active fields (3) of the board (1), the information stored in the RFID identifier memory (4) is read, saved in the memory of the microcontroller of this figure (2) and displayed corresponding message via an electronic indicator.

Description

Description of the invention

The subject of the invention is an interactive board game.

From the Chinese patent description CN 101869766 B, a board game is known containing a function button module, a computer and an RFID reader/programmer module and a set of RFID identifiers. After the player presses the function button, a signal is sent to the computer, then a signal is sent from the computer to the RFID reader/programmer module with a command to read the information stored in one of the RFID identifiers, after reading the information, it is sent to the computer, which plays the sound or image in accordance with with information read from the RFID identifier.

From the Japanese application description JP 2007252716 A, a board game using RFID technology is known, containing a board with built-in RFID identifiers and an RFID reader that allows reading and writing data in these identifiers. Information about game progress is recorded in the board's RFID tags.

From the American application description US 20150328541 A1, a battery-free mobile board game is known, containing a foldable or flexible board. A passive NFC antenna is integrated with the board surface. An intelligent mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet is used to save data in NFC identifiers or to receive them. The solution involves the use of pawns or game cards with integrated NFC identifiers.

From the European description of the invention EP 3085422 A1, a board game is known containing at least one pawn and a board consisting of one NFC device and many NFC antennas that are operationally coupled to it. The NFC device is configured to activate the pawn function using an antenna array. Each pawn contains an NFC identifier that is operationally connected to the antenna. In addition, the pawn may contain a loudspeaker or a light source operationally connected to the NFC tag, as well as an NFC device with a reader function. The pawn contains a motor, operationally connected to the NFC tag, enabling the pawn to perform predefined movements. The board may contain a microcontroller operatively coupled to an NFC device coupled to the antennas via a multiplexer, and the NFC device may determine which of the antennas has connected to the pawn's NFC antenna, and since each antenna has a specific position on the board, this allows the pawn's position to be determined. The microcontroller can control the pawn depending on its location on the board, for example by activating a light, sound or movement effect. The board may contain a user interface that is operationally coupled to the microcontroller. During operation, the user interface can be connected to an external device, for example an NFC-enabled mobile device, the data from which can be used to reconfigure the functionality of the pieces related to their location on the board. The game board may contain a touch screen or may be a touch screen itself. In this case, the antenna array may be located under the touch screen or embedded in the touch screen.

The solutions known from the state of the art have a complicated structure and often require the use of additional electronic devices, such as a tablet computer or a smartphone. At the same time, these games are expensive to make, and their gameplay does not meet the habits and expectations of board game users, in particular due to the need to operate additional devices, which makes it difficult to focus on the game itself.

An interactive board game containing a board and a set of figures, using NFC identifiers, where the board has active fields, each of which contains an NFC identifier, and each figure contains a microcontroller, an NFC reader/programmer, an antenna and an electronic indicator, the reader /NFC programmer and electronic indicator are connected to the microcontroller, according to the invention it is characterized in that the NFC reader/programmer is mounted in the base of the figure and is connected to the microcontroller of this figure in two directions, and in addition, the set of figures includes two types of figures, including at least one figure of the first type, which has the initial information of NFC identifiers of active fields saved in the memory of its microcontroller, and at least two figures of the second type, which has information about the attributes of a given figure saved in the memory of its microcontrollers, and in addition to the active fields, the board also contains fields passive and NFC identifiers are included only in active fields, and in addition, the electronic indicator of each figure is a display.

Preferably, each figure contains an electric cell to power the microcontroller, NFC reader/programmer and electronic indicator.

Further benefits are obtained if the electronic indicator of each of its figures is connected to the microcontroller at the output of this microcontroller.

Further benefits are obtained if the electronic indicators of her figures are in the form of an LCD display.

Further benefits are obtained if the electronic indicators of her figures are in the form of an e-paper display.

The solution allows the use of a game board that visually does not differ in any way from standard boards used in board games. The only active elements of the board are NFC identifiers placed on its active fields. Since NFC identifiers themselves are cheap elements to produce, their use does not significantly affect the unit price of the game in mass production. The game does not require additional devices, such as a computer, smartphone or tablet. The entire game is played using elements standard in board games - the board and figures - and at the same time it is made interactive by signaling changes in the attributes of a given figure during the game using an electronic indicator in the form of an LCD display on which symbols are displayed. In a variant of the solution, the electronic indicator is made of e-paper, which gives the impression of printing symbols on the figure, increasing the impression of playing a traditional board game.

The use of a new board may enable the game to be played according to changed rules and scenario using the same figures, so that to obtain a new game or scenario it is enough to change the board itself. It is also possible to change the information stored in the NFC identifiers of the active fields of an existing board in order to introduce a new scenario or game rules. The properties of the board can also be expanded with a pseudo-random selection of game scenarios - strategies for changing the properties of active fields - thanks to which the same game can be played in several ways - moving a figure over the active field in each subscenario will modify the attributes of a given figure in a different way.

Using individual identifiers for individual figures allows you to introduce different attribute modifications for each figure in the same active field. Thanks to NFC readers/programmers, it is possible to change the properties of a given active field by saving new information in the NFC identifier, and thus introducing additional changes to the attributes of the next figure that will be placed on this field.

The interactive board game is explained in more detail in the drawing, in which Fig. 1 shows the board with pieces placed on it in a top view, Fig. 2 - a figure in a side view.

The interactive board game in the first embodiment is described below. The game includes a board 1 and a set of figures 2. The board is made of thick, stiff cardboard, coated with varnished paper, on the outside of which the layout of board 1 is printed. Active fields 3 are marked on the board 1, which contain the NFC identifier 4 and passive fields 5 not containing such identifiers. NFC 4 identifiers are printed on the board 1 directly under the layer of varnished paper, thus determining the location of the active fields 3. The locations of the active fields 3 are included in the printed layout of the board 1. Information regarding the game is stored in the memory of each NFC 4 identifier. The figures 2 contain, mounted in their bodies, a microcontroller, an NFC reader/programmer, an electronic indicator 6 in the form of a liquid crystal display, and an NFC transmitting and receiving antenna. Moreover, each of the figures 2 contains a battery mounted inside its body to power the microcontroller, the NFC reader/programmer and the electronic indicator 6. The electronic indicator 6 is connected to the output of the microcontroller, and the NFC reader/programmer is bidirectionally connected to the microcontroller. The transmitting and receiving antenna is built into the NFC reader/programmer. The set of figurines 2 also contains one figurine 2, in the memory of the microcontroller, the initial information of the active fields 3 is saved, the remaining figurines 2 have information about the attributes of a given figurine 2, the course of the game and the individual identifier of the figurine 2 itself saved in the memory of their microcontrollers. NFC reader/programmer is mounted in the base of the figure 2. The electronic indicator 6 is located on the outer surface of the figure 2 and displays symbols 7 and other information regarding the course of the game.

The interactive board game in the second embodiment is described below. Each of the figures 2 has electronic indicators 6 in the form of an e-paper display on which symbols 7 and other information regarding the course of the game are displayed. Moreover, each of the figures 2 contains an alkaline battery to power the microcontroller, the NFC reader/programmer and the electronic indicator 6. In other respects, the execution is as in the first embodiment.

List of markings

- board

- figurine

- active field

- NFC ID

- passive field

- electronic indicator

- symbol

Claims (5)

1. An interactive board game containing a board and a set of figures, using NFC identifiers, with active fields marked on the board, each of which contains an NFC identifier, and each figure contains a microcontroller, an NFC reader/programmer, an antenna and an electronic indicator, and an NFC reader/programmer and an electronic indicator are connected to a microcontroller, characterized in that the NFC reader/programmer is mounted in the base of the figure (2) and is connected to the microcontroller of this figure (2) bidirectionally, and furthermore, the set of figures (2) includes two types figures (2), including at least one figure (2) of the first type, which has the initial information of NFC identifiers (4) of active fields (3) saved in the memory of its microcontroller, as well as at least two figures (2) of the second type, which they have information about the attributes of a given figure (2) saved in the memory of their microcontrollers, and in addition to the active fields (3), the board (1) also contains passive fields (5) and NFC identifiers are contained only in the active fields (3), and in addition, the indicator the electronic (6) of each figure (2) is a display. 2. Interactive board game according to claim 1, characterized in that each of its figures (2) contains an electric cell to power the microcontroller, the NFC reader/programmer and the electronic indicator (6). 3. Interactive game according to one of the claims. from 1 to 2, characterized in that the connection of the electronic indicator (6) and each of its figures (2) to the microcontroller is at the output of this microcontroller. 4. Interactive game according to one of the claims. from 1 to 3, characterized in that the electronic indicators (6) of the figures (2) thereof are in the form of an LCD display. 5. Interactive game according to one of the claims. from 1 to 3, characterized in that the electronic indicators (6) of its figures (2) are in the form of an e-paper display.