WO2008117959A1

WO2008117959A1 - Method and system for providing trading card game using rfid tag

Info

Publication number: WO2008117959A1
Application number: PCT/KR2008/001602
Authority: WO
Inventors: Young-Jeon Sohn
Original assignee: Ceyon Technology Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2007-03-23
Filing date: 2008-03-21
Publication date: 2008-10-02
Also published as: KR20090000715A

Abstract

Provided are a trading card game service method and system using a radio frequency iden¬ tification (RFID) tag. A player is permitted to enter a trading card game playing room in response to a request from the player who is authenticated over a mobile communication network. RFID tag information of a trading card of each player is requested when enough number of players enters the game playing room. RFID tag information from all players in the game playing room are received and it is checked if the received tag information indicates the trading card belongs to each corresponding player. When it is determined that the received tag information indicates the trading card does not belong to the corresponding player, a message informing that the trading card does not belong to the corresponding player is sent and another tag information is requested. When it is determined that the received tag information indicates the trading card belongs to the corresponding player, win or loss of the trading card game is determined and the determination result is sent to each player.

Description

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING TRADING CARD

GAME USING RFID TAG

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a trading card game service and a system thereof, and more particularly, to a trading card game service method using a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag and a system thereof. Background Art

[2] In general, trading cards have a variety of images printed thereon, and are used for collection or card games. Trading cards for sale are packaged in random mixes of a predetermined number of cards from the same series. When a card that a purchaser has bought is the same as one that the purchaser has already had, he/she can exchange the card with other user's card, so that the purchaser can collect a various kinds of cards. Moreover, a marketplace for popular trading cards has been established, and these cards are traded at a high price.

[3] A trading card game method varies depending on a game creator or provider, but basically more than two players play a card battle game with their own deck, which is a set of a predetermined number of cards, by placing the cards at predetermined locations and conducting a battle according to predetermined rules to determine the win or loss.

[4] In the conventional card game, since the games are conducted only between players, a game creator or provider could have only few chances such as game matches under the sponsorship of the game creator or provider in order to determine the current status of the their created games.

[5] Furthermore, the game creator or provider only can make a profit at the point of selling cards, and since the card game is highly sensitive to trend, the game creator or provider tends to have difficulties for the management, and, for example, it is easy for the game creator or provider to miss a chance for sale or the card game is overstocked.

[6] Additionally, conducting of a trading card game or exchange of trading cards is generally done between close users and it is not easy for one who wants to play the trading card game or exchange his/her cards with others when there is no collector of the cards from the same series, thereby making it difficult to promote players' desire of collection.

Disclosure of Invention Technical Solution

[7] The present invention has been suggested to overcome the forgoing problems, and its object is to provide a trading card game service method using a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.

[8] Another object of the present invention is to provide a system for executing the trading card game service method using a RFID tag.

Advantageous Effects

[9] According to the present invention, a player side reads RFID tag information attached on a purchased trading card using a RFID tag reader included in a personal portable terminal, and authentication is performed on the trading card in a server that provides a trading card game, and thus a corresponding player can play the trading card game online.

[10] Also, winning rate of a player is managed according to win or loss results of trading card games, and the player is ranked in a community where the player belongs, thereby improving the player's interest in games.

[11] In addition, since an online server manages possession and transfer of possession of a trading card of a losing player and the trading card loses its value online after the possession is transferred, the concept of collection of trading cards can be employed online. Brief Description of the Drawings

[12] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.

[13] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a trading card game service system using an RFID tag according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[14] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a trading card which has an RFID tag attached thereon according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[15] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the card game server and the tag number allocating server in FIG. 1.

[16] FIG. 4 is a detailed block diagram of an RFID tag reader and a corresponding personal portable terminal.

[17] FIG. 5 is a more detailed block diagram of the RFID tag reader and the corresponding personal portable terminal shown in FIG. 4.

[18] FIG. 6 is a table for explaining m-code scheme corresponding to information stored in the RFID tag in FIG. 1.

[19] FIG. 7 is a table for explaining an m-code for recording trading card information included in an RFID tag to be attached to a trading card according to an embodiment of the present invention. [20] FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a trading card game service method using an RFID according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[21] FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a trading card game service method using RFID according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[22] FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing in detail procedures of conducting the trading card game related to an area where the player belongs which is shown in FIG. 9.

[23] FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing in detail procedures of conducting a trading card game which has no connection with an area where a player belongs, which is shown in

FIG. 9.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[24] The present invention discloses a trading card game service method using a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag comprising: permitting a player to enter a trading card game playing room in response to a request from the player who is authenticated over a mobile communication network; requesting RFID tag information of a trading card of each player when enough number of players enter the game playing room; receiving RFID tag information from all players in the game playing room and checking if the received tag information indicates the trading card belongs to each co rresponding player; when it is determined that the received tag information indicates the trading card does not belong to the corresponding player, sending a message informing that the trading card does not belong to the corresponding player and request another tag information; and when it is determined that the received tag information indicates the trading card belongs to the corresponding player, determining win or loss of the trading card game and sending the determination result to each player.

[25] The present invention also discloses a trading card game service method using an

RFID tag comprising: authenticating a player who requests a trading card game using RFID tag information through a personal portable terminal over a mobile communication network and checking if the requested trading card game corresponds to a particular condition; when it is checked that the requested card game corresponds to the particular condition, conducting a trading card game based on the condition; and when it is checked that the requested card game has no connection with the particular condition, conducting a trading card game with no relation to the particular condition.

[26] The present invention also discloses a trading card game service system using an

RFID tag comprising: a trading card game server which provides an online trading card game service to a plurality of personal portable terminals of players which are connected over a mobile communication network, wherein the trading card game server permits players who are authenticated over the mobile communication network to enter a game playing room, requests RFID tag information corresponding to a trading card of each player, receives RFID tag information from all players and checks if the received RFID tag information indicates the trading card belongs to a corresponding player, and determines win or loss and sends the determination result to each player when the received RFID tag information indicates the trading card belongs to the corresponding player.

[27] The present invention also discloses a trading card game service system using an

RFID tag comprising: an RFID tag reader; and a plurality of personal portable terminals of players which are connected to the RFID tag reader and connected to a trading card game server, which provides an online trading card game service, over a mobile communication network, wherein each of the personal portable terminals provides the trading card game server with RFID tag information attached to a trading card using the RFID tag reader over the mobile communication network in response to a request from the trading card game server, and outputs a win or loss determination result of a trading card game.

[28] According to the present invention, a player side reads an RFID tag attached on a purchased trading card by using an RFID tag read included in a personal portable terminal, and authentication of the trading card is performed in a server that provides a trading card game, so that the player can conduct an online trading card game with actual trading cards that the player possesses.

[29] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. Mode for the Invention

[30] Generally, a radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, that is, a wireless frequency recognition technology is for identifying an individual product using a frequency. A radio frequency identification tag (hereinafter, referred to as RFID tag)used for the RFID technology uses an electronic product code (EPC) in order to show its own uniqueness. By using the EPC, a specific product can be identified worldwide. When a RFID technology and a barcode technology are compared, the barcode needs to be touched by a laser reader, whereas the RFID can easily identify information of a product or even insert necessary information into the tag without a reader's direct touching the product so long as there are an antenna and a tag on the product.

[31] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a trading card game service system using an RFID tag according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view of a trading card which has an RFID tag attached thereon according to an embodiment of the present invention. [32] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the trading card game service system includes a first player section 100, a second player section 200, a trading card game server 300, a tag number allocating server 400, a player computer 500, and a game planning server 600.

[33] The first player section 100 includes a plurality of trading cards 110, first RFID tags

115 which are attached to the respective trading cards 110, a first RFID tag reader 120, and a first personal portable terminal 130 connected to the first RFID tag reader 120.

[34] For instance, each of the first trading card 110 has trading card information printed thereon, which includes a title portion 111, an image portion 112, a game information portion 113, and a card identification (ID) portion 114, and the first RFID tag 115. Each piece of trading card information may be printed on either of the front side or the rear side of the trading card 110, or printed on both sides.

[35] The title portion 111 shows the name of the trading card.

[36] The game information portion 113 shows various types of game information of a character that the trading card contains, for example, information about attack force of a character, defense force, damaging force, and so on.

[37] The card ID portion 114 has ID information or a serial number printed thereon in order to identify the trading card 110. The ID information may be unique ID information for each card, or may be single ID information for a group of trading cards.

[38] Each pieces of information included in the title portion 111, the image portion 112, the game information portion 113, and card ID portion 114 is converted into a kind of a code form, and then inserted into the RFID tag. The code may have a variety of code schemes including mCode, micro-mCode, EPC, ISO/IEC 15963 and 15459, and ucode. Especially, mCode is a standard code scheme for a mobile RFID service, and the length of a code is variable. Micro-mCode is for accommodating a code of a small size such as a binary barcode, and the length of a code is, fixedly, 32 bits. In the current embodiment, it is described that the information is inserted into the RFID tag according to mCode scheme.

[39] Referring to FIG. 1 again, a player who holds the first personal portable terminal

130 selects a card from the first trading cards 110 during a game, and brings the RFID tag reader 120 closer to the first RFID tag 115 adhered to the selected trading card 110 to extract RFID tag information. Then, the extracted tag information is provided to the trading card game server 300 via a mobile communication network, and a game decision result is provided to the player in response to the tag information.

[40] The second player section 200 includes a plurality of second trading cards 210, second RFID tags 215 which are attached to the respective second trading cards 210, a second RFID tag reader 220, a second personal portable terminal 230 connected to the second RFID tag reader 220.

[41] A player side where the second personal portable terminal 230 belongs selects a card from the second trading cards 210 during the game, and brings the second RFID tag reader 220 closer to the second RFID tag 215 to extract RFID tag information. The extracted tag information is provided to the trading card game server 300 via a mobile communication network, and a game decision result is provided to the player according to the extracted game information.

[42] The trading card game server 300 is connected to the first player section 100 and the second player section 200 over a mobile communication network, and is connected to the tag number allocating server 400, the player computer 500, and the game planning server 600 over the Internet.

[43] The trading card game server 300 provides a virtual trading card game space for the game to be played according to a predetermined rule, and runs the trading card game based on RFID tag information provided respectively by the first and second player sections 100 and 200.

[44] The tag number allocating server 400 assigns an RFID tag number including unique serial number to each trading card, generates an RFID tag by using the RFID tag number, and adheres the RFID tag onto the trading card 210.

[45] The player computer 500 is used by a player playing the trading card game over the mobile communication network. By using the player computer 500, the player can access the trading card game server 300 to view possessing status of trading cards, a trading status of the card according to the game result, match records, and the like. Also, the player can play the trading card game not only through the personal portable terminal but also through a trading card game web-site on the Internet by using the player computer 500.

[46] The game planning server 600 decides an illustration of a trading card, orders a printing company to print the illustration on the trading cards, and sells the trading card packages including a predetermined number of the printed trading cards wholesale to retails such as toy shops or convenient stores. Moreover, the game planning server 600 sets rules of the game in the virtual trading card game space and provides them to the trading card game server 300.

[47] Trading cards provided by the game planning server 600 have their own unique ID allocated thereto, and such the ID identifies the each trading card in the course of the game.

[48] Procedures of a trading card game played on a trading card game service system using an RFID according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described.

[49] Generally, a trading card game uses different two decks of cards, unlike the traditional card game using a single deck of cards. However, it can be considered that all trading card games have a common point in view of the fact that all games follow three steps.

[50] In the first step, players of a trading card game have to make their own collection of trading cards for a deck. Each kind of trading cards has its own effect on the game. The more efficient the trading card is, the less the card is issued. In general, since trading cards are sold in a packet, a player is not able to know about details of the trading cards in the packet before purchasing it. Consequently, the decks of players are different from one another, and if a player wants to have a stronger deck of the trading cards, the player needs to collect more trading cards than other players.

[51] In the second step, each player makes their own deck having a predetermined number of collected trading cards. Generally, the trading card has its own ability score and features, and the ability score can be changed according to the features. Additionally, there are special kinds of trading cards that have special effects by removing the basic ability score and features or adding particular features from/to the existing trading cards.

[52] Therefore, to make more powerful deck during the game, each player needs to select cards appropriate for the game strategy in consideration of the special effects and features of the trading cards. If a player knows about a list of trading cards that the other player has, the player can make more advantageous deck than that of the other player.

[53] Finally, in the third step, two players prepare their own card deck to play with, and then a trading card game using RFID tags starts online. Each player chooses some of trading cards from the deck, and then brings a personal portable terminal which includes a RFID tag reader to RFID tags attached on the trading cards in turns. Since RFID tag information is extracted repeatedly and then is provided to the trading card game server 300 via a mobile communication network, card-to-card games can be played, and a winner and a loser can be determined after a series of games.

[54] In the first step described above, players collect trading cards to reinforce their deck.

[55] The trading card game according to the current embodiment of the present invention is significantly similar to an actual trading card game played offline, except for the fact that unique ID is allocated to each trading card and RFID tag information provided once via a mobile communication network is registered in a system. The trading cards have the basic functions for collection, a battle, and transfer or exchange. That is, the trading cards may have a variety of designs that induce players' desire of collection.

[56] Furthermore, the trading cards are packaged in a random mix, which includes scarce trading cards, thereby making it difficult to make a complete collection of the trading cards. Thus, the trading cards are exchanged or transferred between collectors. Various rankings may be set for the scarcity so as to promote the desire of collection.

[57] Moreover, for a game (or card battle), a predetermined number of cards are required, and there may be additionally required different kinds of cards such as event cards or terrain cards, besides character cards and item cards. Furthermore, in a card battle, property values including an attack, a defense, a special attack (for example, magic) are set or registered in each trading card. Exchange or transfer of trading cards is carried out for a complete collection of the trading cards, and also for winning the game.

[58] Additionally, redundant trading cards can be exchanged with trading cards that are necessary for the game or has not been yet collected. The value of the trading card may depend on its usability for a game, as well as its scarcity.

[59] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the card game server 300 and the tag number allocating server 400 in FIG. 1.

[60] Referring to FIG. 3, the trading card game server 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an authentication server 310, a player matching server 320, a game playing room creating and operating server 330, an RFID information receiving server 340, a member database (DB) 350, a database 360 of information about cards possessed by each member, a database 370 of information about issued RFID, and a database 380 of win or lost result of each member. The tag number allocating server 400 includes an RFID tag unique number allocating unit 410 and a database 420 of allocated RFID number.

[61] For convenience of explanation, the trading card game server 300 and the tag number allocating server 400 which can be implemented integrally as a single server are only logically divided, but not divided as hardware. The tag number allocating server 400 can be included in the trading card game server 300 to be implemented as a single server.

[62] The authentication server 310 authenticates a player's personal portable terminal

130 or 230.

[63] Moreover, the authentication server 310 may process authentication of a serial number of a trading card provided from the personal portable terminal as well as authentication of the personal portable terminal. For example, the authentication server 310 checks if a serial number of a personal portable terminal is authenticated for the fir st time or it has been already authenticated before, if a trading card is in possession of a personal portable terminal, or if possession of a trading card is transferred from a corresponding personal portable terminal to a different player.

[64] The player matching server 320 selects and matches players from a plurality of players who want to play a battle game according to particular game rules. For example, for a two-player game, the player matching server 320 chooses two players who are playing in the same area or in near areas.

[65] The game playing room creating and operating server 330 creates a game playing room for a game to be played, and operates the game playing room for the smooth progress of the game.

[66] For instance, when a first player and a second player enter the created game playing room, the game playing room creating and operating server 330 requests the players to extract RFID tag information of their first cards, and compares the RFID tag information provided as a response from the first and second players via a mobile communication network to, for example, decide who wins and loses. Then, the game playing room creating and operating server 330 requests the players to extract RFID tag information corresponding to the second cards, and compares the RFID tag information from the first and second players to decide who wins and loses, and in such a manner, the trading card game is conducted.

[67] The RFID information receiving server 340 receives RFID tag information of each trading card from a personal portable terminal of each player. Also, the RFID information receiving server 340 extracts a type of a corresponding game, a serial number of a trading card, and trading card information from the received RFID tag information, and sends the extracted information to the authentication server 310 or the game playing room creating and operating server 330.

[68] The member database 350 stores the personal portable terminal number, information of a subscribed member corresponding to the personal portable terminal, information about a group where the subscriber belong, and age and sex of the subscriber.

[69] The database 360 of information about cards possessed by each member stores information about the trading cards that each member possesses. The trading card information may be sent through a personal portable terminal of a player when the trading card is opened for the first time, or may be obtained from trading cards of other players.

[70] The database 370 of information about issued RFID stores a unique trading card number and feature information of a trading card.

[71] The database 380 of win or lost result of each member stores the date of playing a battle game, win/lost result information of each game, and winning rate of each player. For instance, when it is considered that a unique number has been assigned to a personal portable terminal and the personal portable terminal has been authenticated, the database 380 of information win or lost result of each member stores the date of conducting a battle game, win and lost result information of each game, and winning rate of the member corresponding to the personal portable terminal number.

[72] As described above, since substantially the possession of each trading card is registered online in the database 360 of information about cards possessed by each member and is managed by the database 360, even when a player holds a trading card offline, a battle game is not conducted online. Thus, it is desirable for the player who lost the game to transfer his/her trading card to a player who won the game.

[73] Alternatively, the trading card game server 300 may additionally issue a trading card that is supposed to be transferred from the losing player to the winning player.

[74] The trading card game server 300 in FIG. 3 may further include a web server 390 that manages web pages. The web server 390 provides a variety of information, including member subscription, status of possession transfer according to game result, and battle game scores, to a player's computer in response to a request from the computer over the Internet, so that the player can check the information visually.

[75] In addition, the web server 390 provides a card game website to a player who accesses the web server 390 through his/her computer 500 to request a trading card game.

[76] FIG. 4 is a detailed block diagram of an RFID tag reader 120 and a corresponding personal portable terminal 130. Referring to FIG. 4, the personal portable terminal 130 includes a controller 131 that controls the overall operation of the personal portable terminal 130, an input unit 132 that controls an input of the personal portable terminal 130, a memory 133 that stores various data, a wireless communication unit 134 that establish a wireless communication, a display unit 135 that displays the current status of the RFID tag reader 120 or a processing status of an event that a user requested, and an output unit 136 that provides audio data which is required for voice call service or data service.

[77] The personal portable terminal 130 has a general function for communication over a mobile communication network, and an additional function for sending RFID tag information provided from the RFID tag reader 120 that scanned an RFID tag 115 (referring to FIGS. 1 and 2) and receiving signals in response to the RFID tag information. The personal portable terminal 130 can be implemented as a mobile communication terminal, such as a cellular phone, a personal communication service, or a personal digital assistant, which is available for calling.

[78] More specifically, the RFID reader 120 scans the RFID tag 115 to recognize an

RFID signal transmitted from the RFID tag 115, and sends the RFID signal to the trading card game server 300 through the wireless communication unit 134.

[79] Although in FIG. 4, the RFID tag reader 120 and the personal portable terminal 130 are described as having individual structures, the personal portable terminal 130 can include the RFID tag reader 120 when necessary.

[80] FIG. 5 is a more detailed block diagram of the RFID tag reader 120 and the corresponding personal portable terminal 130 shown in FIG. 4. The standards for a handset adaptation layer (HAL), which is included in the personal portable terminal 130 according to the current embodiment of the present invention, and processes data for controlling and communicating with the RFID tag reader 120, include functions of an RFID reader and control of an RFID tag.

[81] Referring to FIG. 5, the RFID tag reader 120 includes an RFID antenna 124 and an

RFID reader module 122. A trading card game program 500 is run in the personal portable terminal 130 connected to the RFID tag reader 120. For example, the trading card game program 500 is loaded into the memory 133 (referring to FIG. 4) included in the personal portable terminal 130. The trading card game program 500 includes an RFID reader device driver 510, an RFID reader HAL API 520, an RFID reader control application interface (API) 530, an RFID code supporting API 540, a security API 550, a network API 560, and an RFID customer application program (APP) 570.

[82] The RFID reader device driver 510 is system software for controlling the RFID tag reader 120.

[83] The RFID reader HAL API 520 is an abstraction layer for device independence with respect to the RFID reader module 122.

[84] The RFID reader control API 530 provides an application with a function of controlling the RFID reader module 314. In other words, the RFID reader control API 530 which is built in the personal portable terminal 130 (referring to FIGS. 1 and 4) controls the RFID reader module 122 and provides information read from the RFID tag 115 to a WAP or ME browser.

[85] The RFID code supporting API 540 interprets information read from the RFID tag

115 or converts information to be stored.

[86] The security API 550 provides various security functions for communication between an application and the RFID tag 115, an object directory service (ODS) server 20 or 10, an object information service (OIS) server 50, and a contents server 55. The OIS server 50 has details information about a particular object, and the details information can include any matters of the object.

[87] Therefore, the OIS server 50 can be considered the same as a WAP/web server for providing general contents. Here, the WAP server is a server that provides WAP-based contents through WAP protocol regardless of the information schema of the contents.

[88] Furthermore, the web server is a server that provides all kinds of contents using

HTTP protocol, and does not depend on a particular information schema. That is, the OIS server 50 has details information of an object and provides the details information based on HTTP protocol, and thus the OIS server 50 can be considered as a web server or a WAP server.

[89] The network API 560 enables an application to access the ODS server 20 or 10 or the OIS server 50 to achieve information corresponding to information read from the RFID tag 115.

[90] The RFID customer application program 570 is downloaded to the personal portable terminal 130, reads the RFID tag 115 and then provides a service according to information read from the RFID tag 115.

[91] In operation, the RFID reader control API 530 is driven by controlling a specific device of the personal portable terminal 130, for example, a button or the input unit 132 so as to control the RFID tag reader 120. Alternatively, the customer application program 570 is downloaded from a contents service provider and used to control the RFID tag reader 120 or 220 to obtain the RFID tag information and then access a r elated server for additional information.

[92] A flow of the messages will be described below.

[93] A user clicks an application driving button on the personal portable terminal 130 or initiates the RFID reader application program 570 in an application menu of the personal portable terminal 130.

[94] Accordingly, the RFID reader application program 570 calls the RFID reader control API (read tag), and the called RFID reader control API 530 calls the RFID reader HAL API 520. Thus, the RFID reader control API 530 calls for reading tag information written in the RFID tag.

[95] Accordingly, the RFID reader HAL API 520 sends a command to the RFID reader device driver 510, and the RFID reader device driver 510 transfers the command to the RFID tag reader 120 to run the RFID reader module 122.

[96] Consequently, the RFID reader device driver 510 receives the scanning result (tag data, bitstream, tag type, and so on) from the RFID reader 120, and returns the RFID reader operating result to the RFID reader HAL API 520. Then, the RFID reader HAL API 520 returns the RFID reader operating result to the reader control API 530.

[97] The reader control API 530, then, returns the RFID reader operating result to the

RFID reader application program 570, and the RFID reader application program 570 calls the RFID code supporting API 540 in order to interpret the code of the read RFID tag data (bitstream).

[98] Then, the RFID code supporting API 540 calls the RFID reader HAL API 520 for access to common memory of the personal portable terminal 130 for code interpretation, and the RFID reader HAL API520 returns contents of the common memory to the RFID code supporting API 540.

[99] Hence, the RFID code supporting API 540 interprets the code of the tag data based on code in the common memory, and then transfers the interpreting result to the RFID customer application program 570.

[100] The network API 560 is called by using an ODS query message generated by extracting only necessary codes through the code interpretation. [101] The local ODS is asked for uniform resource locator (URL) related to the extracted code through the network API 560, which acts as an ODS resolver.

[102] When the local ODS server 10 does not have OIS information or contents server information related to the received code, the local ODS server 10 transfers the received code to the national ODS server 20 to request the information related to the code. If the local ODS server 10 has the related information, it does not request the national ODS server 20 for the information, but searches for the related information and transfers the information directly to the network API 560. The contents server 55 secures URI i nformation corresponding to the code through code resolution. The contents server 55 is an information system server or a contents server contained in URI. The mobile RFID application program or wireless internet content browser in the personal portable terminal 130 accesses an application server specified by the URI to take data or contents specified by the URI. The application server may be a WAPAVEB server, EPC-IS and EPC-ODS server of EPCGlobal, an OIS server, and an OTS server.

[103] In the code resolution, NAPTR record information that is set for a code is obtained from the ODS server by using DNS protocol. The ODS server needs to register all NAPTR, which, respectively, correspond to codes for information service to be served. The protocol procedure for the code resolution may include a procedure of <Reverse DNS lookup>, and <NAPTR> query is issued instead of <PTR>. In the course of < Reverse DNS lookup>, code is used instead of an IP address, and URI information is provided as a response, instead of name address.

[104] Accordingly, the national ODS server 20 transfers the URI (that is, OIS address or contents server address) related to the transmitted code to the local ODS server 10, and the local ODS server 10 returns the received URI to the network API 560. Then, the network API 560 returns the received URI to the RFID reader application program 570.

[105] The result of calling is returned to the RFID reader application program 570, and then the RFID reader application program 570 calls the network API 560 to access the OIS server 50 or the contents server 55. The OIS server 50 may be a WAP server that provides contents or a web server.

[106] Consequently, the network API 560 (especially, OIS network interface) accesses the OIS server 50 or the contents server 55 to request tag-related information.

[107] The OIS server 50 or the contents server 55 transmits a profile of a product or service that relates to the received tag information to the network API 560.

[108] The network API 560 returns the received profile of a product or service to the

RFID customer application program 570 to display the profile on a screen.

[109] FIG. 6 is a table for explaining m-code scheme corresponding to information stored in the RFID tag 115 in FIG. 1. Although the code is expressed by hexadecimal numbers for convenience of explanation in FIG. 6, in actual application, the RFID tag needs to be processed by a binary number, and the code needs to be converted into decimal numbers for an ODS query.

[110] Referring to FIG. 6, a top level code (TLC) of 12 bits is allocated to the top authority. Here, 00OH and FFFH to FFFH are reserved for special purposes and extension.

[I l l] A class of 4 bits is used to allocate codes of a variety of configuration in consideration with a size of a sub-authority and the number of contents when the top authority that received the TLC allocates the codes to the sub-authority. Each of a company code (CC), an item category code (ICC), an item code (IC), and a serial code (SC)has a different length and configuration according to a class of the code.

[112] For instance, when assuming that a particular mobile communication provider named "OK communications" is allocated E12H as TLC and a contents provider named "OKBeIl" is allocated CC 0012H of class B(IH) from the OK communications, the OKBeIl can allocate a 32-bit identifier to its contents. For example, if 00001234H is allocated to contents named "OKSong", the whole code becomes E121001200001234H.

[113] Hereinafter, decoding process in m-code scheme will now be described.

[114] For example, with reference to the table in FIG. 8 it can be understood by using the first 12 bits and 4-bit class in the process of code interpretation that the encoded E121001200001234H has a total length of 64 bits, and has 16-bit CC and 32-bit IC. Thus, the encoded code can be converted into the URN format such as < urn:mcode:id:3602.1.18.4660>, and ultimately converted into the FQDN format such as <4660.18.1.3602.id.mcode.ods.or.kr> and then the converted code is transmitted to the local ODS. When m-code happens to have SC while being converted into the FQDN format, the SC is removed.

[115] FIG. 7 is a table for explaining an m-code for recording trading card information included in an RFID tag to be attached to a trading card according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 7, the trading card information included in the RFID tag is formed of a total of 112 bits. From among 112 bits, 16 bits are allocated for a main category for portal classification by recording unique code or URL information of a server that provides a trading card game, 24 bits are allocated for service classification, 40 bits are allocated for recording a serial number of the trading card, and 32 bits are allocated for recording the trading card information.

[116] From among a total of 24 bits for service classification, each 8-bit is allocated for service type classification, for subscriber classification, and for game classification.

[117] Also, from among a total of 32 bits for trading card information, every 8-bit is allocated for recording an ability value, a lifetime value, a character, and character feature information of the trading card, respectively.

[118] FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a trading card game service method using an RFID according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[119] Referring to FIG. 8, it is checked if a trading card battle game can be requested through a personal portable terminal (operation SlOO).

[120] In operation SlOO, when it is confirmed that the trading card battle game can be requested, a member authentication is performed (operation S 105), and when it is determined that a player is an authenticated member, the player is permitted to enter a trading card battle game room (operation Sl 10).

[121] Then, it is checked if there are enough number of players in the trading card battle game room (operation Sl 15), and when it is determined that there are not enough number of players, the procedure goes back to operation SlOO.

[122] Meanwhile, when it is determined that there are enough number of players in the battle game room, each player is requested to send RFID tag information corresponding to one trading card (operation S 120).

[123] Then, it is checked if the RFID tag information is received from the trading card player (operation S 125), when it is checked that the RFID tag information has been received, it is checked if the RFID tag information indicates the trading card is possessed by the corresponding player(operation S 130).

[124] In operation S 130, when the received tag information indicates the trading card does not belong to the corresponding player, a message informing the trading card is in possession of ananother person is sent to the player, and the procedure goes back to operation S 130 after a request for sending another tag information is issued to the player (operation S 135).

[125] In operation S130, when the received information indicates that the trading card belongs to the corresponding player, the win and loss is determined, and the determination result information is sent to each player who participates in the corresponding trading card game (operation S 140).

[126] Next, it is checked if there are trading cards remaining in the corresponding trading card game (operation S 145), and when it is determined that there are still trading cards remaining, the procedure goes back to operation S 120.

[127] In operation S 145, when there is no trading card remaining, the final win and loss is determined, and the final determination result is sent to each player who participates in the corresponding trading card game (operation S 150).

[128] The final win and loss determination result is stored in the member database

(operation S 155).

[129] RFID tag information of a losing player is changed into RFID tag information of a winning player (operation S 160). [130] FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a trading card game service method using RFID according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 9, it is checked if a request for a trading card battle game is issued by a personal portable terminal (operation SlOO).

[131] In operation SlOO, when the trading card game is requested, member authentication is performed (operation S 105), and when a corresponding member is determined as authorized, it is checked if the player requests a trading card game corresponding to a group where the player belongs (operation S200).

[132] In operation S200, when it is checked that the player requested a trading card game corresponding to an area where the player belongs, a trading card game related to the area is conducted (operation S300). The trading card game related to the area will be described in detail later with reference to FIG. 10.

[133] In operation S200, when it is checked that the player requested a trading card game with no relation to an area where the player belongs, a trading card game with no relation to the area is conducted (operation S400). The trading card game unrelated to the area will be described in detail later with reference to FIG. 11.

[134] Although in FIG. 9 the procedures for the trading card game in relation to the area where the player belongs are described, a trading card game in relation to ranking of a corresponding player can be conducted.

[135] Moreover, a trading card game in relation to sex or age of a player or a community of the player may be conducted.

[136] FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing in detail procedures of conducting the trading card game related to an area where the player belongs which is shown in FIG. 9. The procedures that are the same as in FIG. 8 have the same reference numerals as in FIG. 8, and the detailed description of the procedures will be omitted.

[137] Referring to FIG. 10, it is checked if there is a trading card game room corresponding to an area where a player belongs (operation S305).

[138] In operation S305, if there is no trading card game room corresponding to the area, a corresponding game room is created(operation S310).

[139] In operation S305, if there is a battle game room corresponding to the area, the player is permitted to enter the battle game room (operation S315).

[140] Next, the procedures following operation Sl 15 of FIG. 8 are performed.

[141] FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing in detail procedures of conducting a trading card game which has no connection with an area where a player belongs, which is shown in FIG. 9.

[142] Referring to FIG. 11, it is checked if there is a trading card game room with no relation to an area where a player belongs (operation S405).

[143] When there is no trading card game room which has no connection with the area, a trading card game room unrelated to the area is created (operation S410).

[144] Alternatively, when there is a trading card game room with no relation to the area, the player is allowed to enter the trading card game room (operation S415).

[145] Afterwards, the procedures following operation Sl 15 are performed.

[146] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variation can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. Industrial Applicability

[147] The present invention relates to a trading card game service method and system using a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, and can be efficiently applied to an industry field that provides a trading card game service using an RFID tag.

[148]

Claims

[1] A trading card game service method using a radio frequency identification

(RFID) tag comprising: permitting a player to enter a trading card game playing room in response to a request from the player who is authenticated over a mobile communication network; requesting RFID tag information of a trading card of each player when enough number of players enter the game playing room; receiving RFID tag information from all players in the game playing room and checking if the received tag information indicates the trading card belongs to each corresponding player; when it is determined that the received tag information indicates the trading card does not belong to the corresponding player, sending a message informing that the trading card does not belong to the corresponding player and request another tag information; and when it is determined that the received tag information indicates the trading card belongs to the corresponding player, determining win or loss of the trading card game and sending the determination result to each player.

[2] The trading card game service method of claim 1, further comprising: storing the win or loss determination result in a member database after determining win or loss.

[3] The trading card game service method of claim 1, further comprising: changing RFID tag information of a losing player into RFID tag information of a winning player according to the win or loss determination result.

[4] The trading card game service method of claim 1, wherein the RFID tag information includes a serial number of a trading card.

[5] The trading card game service method of claim 4, wherein the serial number of the trading card is unique.

[6] The trading card game service method of claim 1, wherein the RFID tag information includes portal classification information having unique code and URL information of a server that runs the trading card game player room, subscriber classification information having information regarding a service type, subscriber classification, and game classification, serial information of the trading card, and card information including an ability value, a lifetime value, a character image and character feature information of the trading card.

[7] The trading card game service method of claim 6, wherein the portal classification information is 16 bits, the subscriber classification information is 24 bits, the serial information is 40 bits, and the card information is 32 bits.

[8] The trading card game service method of claim 6, wherein each of the ability value, the lifetime value, the character image of the trading card, and the character feature information is 8 bits.

[9] A trading card game service method using an RFID tag comprising: authenticating a player who requests a trading card game using RFID tag information through a personal portable terminal over a mobile communication network and checking if the requested trading card game corresponds to a particular condition; when it is checked that the requested card game corresponds to the particular condition, conducting a trading card game based on the condition; and when it is checked that the requested card game has no connection with the particular condition, conducting a trading card game with no relation to the particular condition.

[10] The trading card game service method of claim 9, wherein the particular condition is equivalent to at least one of an area where the player actively participate, a ranking of the player, a sex of the player, an age of the player, or a community of the player.

[11] The trading card game service method of claim 9, wherein the conducting of the trading card game based on the condition includes: checking if there is a game playing room that corresponds to the particular condition and permitting the player to enter a trading card game playing room which corresponds to the particular condition after creating the trading card game playing room when it is checked that there is no trading card game playing room corresponding to the condition; checking if there are enough number of players in the game playing room and when it is checked that there are not enough number of players, returning to the checking of whether the requested trading card game corresponds to a particular condition, or when it is checked that there are enough number of players, requesting each player for RFID tag information corresponding to a trading card; when receiving RFID tag information from all players in the game playing room, checking if the received RFID tag information indicates each trading card belongs to a corresponding player; when it is checked that the RFID tag information indicates that the trading card belongs to another person, sending the corresponding player a message informing that the trading card belongs to another person, and requesting the player to send another tag information; and when it is checked that the RFID tag information indicates the trading card belongs to the corresponding player, determining win or loss of the trading card game and sending a win or loss determination result to each player.

[12] The trading card game service method of claim 9, wherein the conducting of the trading card game with no relation to the particular condition includes: checking if there is a game playing room with no relation to the particular condition, and when there is no game playing room with no relation to the particular condition, creating a game playing room with no relation to the particular condition and permitting the player to enter the game playing room, or when there is a game playing room with no relation to the particular condition, directly permitting the player to enter the game playing room; checking if there are enough number of players are in the game playing room, and when there are not enough number of players, returning to the checking of whether the requested trading card game corresponds to a particular condition, or when it is checked that there are enough number of players, requesting each player for RFID tag information corresponding to a trading card; when receiving RFID tag information from all players in the game playing room, checking if the received RFID tag information indicates each trading card belongs to a corresponding player; when it is checked that the RFID tag information indicates that the trading card belongs to another person, sending the corresponding player a message informing that the trading card belongs to another person, and requesting the player to send another tag information; and when it is checked that the RFID tag information indicates the trading card belongs to the corresponding player, determining win or loss of the trading card game and sending a win or loss determination result to each player.

[13] The trading card game service method of claim 9, wherein the RFID tag information includes a serial number of a trading card.

[14] The trading card game service method of claim 13, wherein the serial number of the trading card is unique.

[15] The trading card game service method of claim 9, wherein the RFID tag information includes portal classification information having unique code and URL information of a server that runs the trading card game player room, subscriber classification information having information regarding a service type, subscriber classification, and game classification, serial information of the trading card, and card information including an ability value, a lifetime value, a character image and character feature information of the trading card.

[16] A trading card game service system using an RFID tag comprising: a trading card game server which provides an online trading card game service to a plurality of personal portable terminals of players which are connected over a mobile communication network, wherein the trading card game server permits players who are authenticated over the mobile communication network to enter a game playing room, requests RFID tag information corresponding to a trading card of each player, receives RFID tag information from all players and checks if the received RFID tag information indicates the trading card belongs to a corresponding player, and determines win or loss and sends the determination result to each player when the received RFID tag information indicates the trading card belongs to the corresponding player.

[17] The trading card game service system of claim 16, wherein the trading card game server sends a message informing that the trading card belongs to another person and requests the corresponding player for another tag information when the tag information indicates the trading card belongs to another person.

[18] The trading card game service system of claim 16, wherein the trading card game server stores win or loss determination result in a member database.

[19] The trading card game service system of claim 16, wherein the trading card game server changes RFID tag information of a losing player into RFID tag information of a winning player.

[20] The trading card game service system of claim 16, wherein the trading card game server inquires whether RFID information provided from a particular personal portable terminal corresponds to another personal portable terminal, and when there is a corresponding personal portable terminal, the trading card game server determines that the RFID information indicates that a corresponding trading card belongs to another person.

[21] The trading card game service system of claim 16, wherein the trading card game server includes: a member database which stores a personal portable terminal number, information of an area corresponding to the personal portable terminal, and age and sex of a user who is using the personal portable terminal; an authentication server which performs authentication of the personal portable terminal and the trading card; a player matching server which selects players according to a particular game rule and enables the selected players to play a trading card game; a game playing room creating and operating server which creates a game playing room so that the matched players can conduct the trading card game; an RFID information receiving server which receives RFID tag information of a trading card provided over a mobile communication network; a database of information about trading card possessed by each member which stores a unique card number of each member; a database of information about issued RFID which stores a unique card number and feature information of the card; and a database of information about win or loss result of each member which stores winning rate information corresponding to a personal portable terminal number.

[22] The trading card game service system of claim 16, further comprising: a web server which runs a plurality of web pages, wherein the web server checks if a user who accesses the web server through the Internet is a subscribed member by checking the authentication server, and provides an Internet trading card game when the user is determined as a subscribed member.

[23] A trading card game service system using an RFID tag comprising: an RFID tag reader; and a plurality of personal portable terminals of players which are connected to the RFID tag reader and connected to a trading card game server, which provides an online trading card game service, over a mobile communication network, wherein each of the personal portable terminals provides the trading card game server with RFID tag information attached to a trading card using the RFID tag reader over the mobile communication network in response to a request from the trading card game server, and outputs a win or loss determination result of a trading card game.