Real-time Remote-controlled Combat Gaming Device

Abstract

A real-time remote-controlled combat gaming device includes at least one controller, one controlled device, and one bridge. The bridge can be set in an independent hardware. A basic remote controlled set is established by connecting at least one controller and at least one controlled device together via the bridge, so as to proceed the group gaming or single practice. By means of the group gaming or single practice, the player can accumulate the credits, and then achieve the conditions of promotion and/or upgrading. The upgrading includes virtual parameters and real parameter. By credit accumulation and item upgrading, the players can enjoy the fun of raising their own electronic pets, and also they can experience the exciting of variable audio and visual effect from game to game, so as to not only sublimate the essence of traditional remote-controlled toys, but also improve the "virtual-only" problem of nowadays' on-line games.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a gaming device and, more particularly, to a real-time remote-controlled combat gaming device.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] Generally, the remote-controlled toys, such as tanks, airplanes, boats or robots, make use of the theory of radio, infrared or sound-controlled device to control the toys to move forward and backward, rotate, accelerate, decelerate, or move up and down, so as to achieve the enjoyment in the physical interaction between the user and the toy. However, most of the toys only allow a single user to play the game, but not providing any element that enables the user to upgrade after accumulating the number of playing games for a certain times. As a result, the toy may no longer be new to the user and the user may not play the toy anymore.

[0005] Furthermore, for the on-line game, users make use the keyboard, push buttons, mouse, joystick or touch screen to have virtual interaction with the on-line game so as to achieve the game-playing effect. Because the on-line game allows multiple users to play the game at the same time, in comparison with the conventional toy that generates a certain result in response to one command for driving one action, the uncertainty caused by multiple users playing the game at the same time further allows the users to gain more enjoyment therefrom. However, the on-line game only simulates various gaming situation, and thus users are unable to experience the reality and interactive enjoyment in manipulating the physical toys.

[0006] Therefore, it is desired to provide an improved real-time remote-controlled combat gaming device for tucking the concept of multiple users playing a game at the same time into a physical toy with a remote-control function, so that multiple users can play combat game at the same time when the users are manipulating physical toys thereby increasing the playable character of the gaming devices, so as to not only maintain the reality of manipulating physical toys but also introduce the sound-and-light effect and upgradable architecture well-known in the on-line game and thus combine the real toy and virtual pet, thereby increasing the value of the gaming device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] In view of the prior art that the physical remote-controlled toy allows only one user to play and the on-line game only simulates the gaming situation, the present invention is provided to add the feature of allowing multiple users to play a game at the same time into the physical remote-controlled toy. In comparison with the conventional remote-controlled toy, the real-time remote-controlled combat gaming device of the present invention allows multiple users to play a group combat game in which each user is able to control a physical gaming device thereby increasing the uncertainty of playing game and increasing the sense of reality of playing game. Furthermore, because of introducing the feature of upgrading and the new sound-and-light effect exhibited after upgrading, the playable character of playing game can be significantly increased. In addition, the gaming device can also be manipulated by a single user for the purpose of practicing, so as to facilitate the combating capability in a group combat played by multiple users after upgrading.

[0008] To achieve the object, the real-time remote-controlled combat gaming device of the present invention includes: at least a controller, at least a controlled device, a bridge and a target, wherein each controller includes a control unit, a controlling network unit, a memory unit, an indication unit, a display unit and a sound receiving and playing unit, and the control unit is electrically connected to the controlling network unit, the memory unit, the indication unit, the display unit and the sound receiving and playing unit.

[0009] Each controlled device is controlled by a corresponding controller, and each controlled device includes a control module, a controlled network module, a memory module, an infrared receiver module, an image capturing module, a sound receiving and playing module, an infrared transmitter module and a light emitting module. The control module is electrically connected to the controlled network module, the memory module, the infrared receiver module, the image capturing module, the sound receiving and playing module, the infrared transmitter module, and the light emitting module; and

[0010] The bridge is electrically connected to the at least a controller and the at least a controlled device, so as to establish basic control set for a specific gaming group or a single-user practice. The memory unit of each controller is stored with a combat parameter value capable of changing performance of the corresponding controlled device.

[0011] In addition, the bridge of the present invention is disposed on a target for implementing the function of the bridge on the target. Alternatively, the bridge of the present invention can be disposed on a controller or a controlled device for implementing the function of the bridge on the controller or the controlled device.

[0012] Moreover, each controlled device of the present invention further includes a power module.

[0013] Moreover, the memory module of each controlled device of the present invention is stored with a controlled performance data representative of operation of the image capturing module, the sound receiving and playing module, the infrared transmitter module, the light emitting module and the power module for driving the modules and gaming sound-effect data of each controlled device.

[0014] Moreover, the memory unit of each controller of the present invention is stored with a controlling performance data representative of operation of the indication unit, the display unit and the sound receiving and playing unit for driving the units, gaming sound-effect data and gaming figure file data of each controller.

[0015] Moreover, the target of the present invention includes a control element, a memory element, an infrared receiver element and a sound playing element, and the control element is electrically connected to the controlled network element, the memory element, the infrared receiver element, the sound playing element and the bridge.

[0016] Moreover, the memory element of the target of the present invention is stored with the combat parameter value stored by the memory unit of each controller.

[0017] Moreover, each controlled device of the present invention further includes a rotatable gun turret capable of adjusting a horizontal viewing angle of the image capturing module, and the infrared receiver module is circularly arranged on a periphery of the rotatable gun turret.

[0018] Moreover, each controlled device of the present invention further includes a gun tube capable of adjusting a vertical viewing angle of the image capturing module, and the infrared transmitted module is embedded in the gun tube and the light emitting module is installed on top of the gun tube.

[0019] In addition, the memory module of each controlled device of the present invention is stored with the combat parameter value.

[0020] The basic control set for specific gaming group or single-user practice includes multiple communication functions as follows:

[0021] (1) Video communication: The image photographed by the image capturing module of the controlled device is compressed with image compression technique to reduce the data amount. The compressed data is transferred to the controlling network unit of the controller via the controlled network module, and the controller uses image decompression technique to decompress the data, which is then displayed on the display unit of the controller. Therefore, the player is able to view the real-time image observed by the controlled device, and thus feel like a driver sitting in the navigation bridge of the controlled device. In addition, the viewing angle of the image capturing module of the controlled device is orientated toward a direction same as the infrared transmitter module.

[0022] (2) Audio communication: Both the controller and the controlled device have a sound receiving and playing member. Therefore, the player can generate sound at the side of the controller, which is compressed with audio compression technique and then transmitted the controlled network module of the controlled device via the controlling network unit, and the compressed data is decompressed with audio decompression technique at the side of the controlled device for playing sound. On the contrary, the controlled device can receive sound, which is compressed with audio compression technique and then transmitted the controlling network unit of the controller via the controlled network module, and the compressed data is decompressed with audio decompression technique at the side of the controller for playing sound. In addition, a pre-recorded sound file can be stored in the memory module of the controlled device, and the following control communication is employed to indicate the controlled device to play an assigned pre-recorded sound file.

[0023] (3) Control communication: The control communication is an operation performed by the player on the indication unit, which is transmitted to the controlled network module of the controlled device via the controlling network unit, so as to give related operation commands to the controlled device, including, but not limited to, the power module of the controlled device being driven to move forward and backward, turn, accelerate, decelerate, rotate the gun turret, and move the gun tube up and down, infrared transmitting designated data, playing designated sound file, exciting the light emitting module, etc.

[0024] (4) Sensing communication: The sensing communication refers to the infrared data received by the controlled device or the sensed state being transmitted to the controlling network unit of the controller via the controlled network module, wherein the sensed state includes, but not limited to, infrared receiving data, battery capacity of the controlled device, the angles of the gun turret and gun tube of the controlled device, etc. After receiving these data and state, the controller displays them on the display unit in a suitable displaying manner for being viewed by the player.

[0025] Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] FIG. 1 shows a real-time remote-controlled combat gaming device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] FIG. 2 shows the architecture of a controlled device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] FIG. 3 shows the architecture of a controller in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] FIG. 4 shows the architecture of a target in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] FIG. 5 is a flowchart of multi-user combat in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

[0031] FIG. 6 is a flowchart of single-user practice in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0032] With reference to FIG. 1, there is shown a real-time remote-controlled combat gaming device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the gaming device includes a bridge 390, a plurality of controllers 100, 100a, 100b, 100c, and a plurality of controlled devices 200, 200a, 200b, 200c corresponding to the controllers 100, 100a, 100b, 100c, respectively. In this embodiment, the bridge 390 is electrically connected to the plurality of controllers 100, 100a, 100b, 100c and the corresponding controlled devices 200, 200a, 200b, 200c. In this embodiment, the bridge 390 is arranged on a target 300. Alternatively, the bridge 390 can also be arranged on a specific controller or a specific controlled device for connecting to other controllers and controlled devices. The controllers 100, 100a, 100b, 100c are, for example, portable electronic devices, such as smart phones or tablet computers, which are employed to remotely control corresponding remote-controlled tanks or other toys that are used as the controlled devices 200, 200a, 200b, 200c, so as to proceed with a multi-user combat. In addition, a single controller 100 can be connected to a single controlled device via the bridge 390 to proceed with a single-user practice.

[0033] With reference to FIG. 2, there is shown the architecture of the controlled device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The controlled device 200 is controlled by the corresponding controller 100. In addition, the controlled device 200 includes a control module 202, a controlled network module 204, a memory module 206, an infrared receiver module 208, an image capturing module 210, a sound receiving and playing module 212, an infrared transmitter module 214, a light emitting module 216 and a power module 218.

[0034] The control module 202 is electrically connected to the controlled network module 204, the memory module 206, the infrared receiver module 208, the image capturing module 210, the sound receiving and playing module 212, the infrared transmitter module 214, the light emitting module 216 and the power module 218. The communication between the control module 202 and the controller 100 is achieved by using the controlled network module 204 to electrically connect to the controller 100 via the bridge 390.

[0035] The memory module 206 of each controlled device 200 is stored with a controlled performance data representative of the operation performance of the image capturing module 210, the sound receiving and playing module 212, the infrared transmitter module 214, the light emitting module 216 and the power module 218, such as data for driving the aforementioned modules and game sound-effect data, so that the control module 202 is able to drive the controlled device 200 according to the parameter of the controlled performance data.

[0036] The image capturing module 210 is provided to observe information of surrounding environment, and transmit the observed information to the corresponding controller 100 for allowing the controller to be aware of the information of surrounding environment. The sound receiving and playing module 212 is provided to play the sound transmitted from the corresponding controller 100 or to play the game sound-effect data stored in the memory module 206. The sound receiving and playing module 212 is also able to transmit the sound of surrounding environment back to the corresponding controller 100. In this embodiment, the image capturing module is a video camera which faces to a direction same as the gun tube 209 of the tank and is moved together with the gun tube 209 of the tank, wherein the gun tube 209 is capable of adjusting the vertical viewing angle of the image capturing module 210. The sound receiving and playing module 212 is provided with the functions of microphone for receiving sound and speaker for playing sound.

[0037] The infrared transmitter module 214 is provided to transmit an infrared signal, which is used to attack the other controlled devices 200a, 200b, 200c. The direction of attack is determined by using the power module 218 to adjust the position of the controlled device 200 and rotate the gun turret 207, or to adjust the gun tube 209 to move up and down, wherein the rotatable gun turret 207 is capable of adjusting the horizontal viewing angle of the image capturing module 210.

[0038] The light emitting module 216 is operated in cooperation with the infrared transmitted module 214 for exhibiting the firing operation of the controlled device 200. The infrared receiver module 208 is provided for receiving the infrared signal transmitted from the other controlled device 200a, 200b, 200c and, if there is infrared signal received, it indicates that the controlled device 200 is under attack. In this embodiment, the infrared receiver module 208 is a ring-shaped structure having a plurality of infrared receivers circularly arranged on the periphery of the rotatable gun turret 207.

[0039] Therefore, by using the control module 202 to determine which infrared receiver receives signal, it is able to be aware of the angles of the other controlled devices 200a, 200b, 200c with respect to the controlled device 200. Such information is transmitted to the controller 100 for enabling the display unit 110 of the controller 100 to exhibit more realistic 3D combat animation effect. In this embodiment, the infrared transmitted module 214 is embedded in the gun tube 209 and the light emitting module 216 is installed on top of the gun tube 209. The power module 218 is of a power motor transmission structure.

[0040] With reference to FIG. 3, there is shown the architecture of the controller in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The controller 100 includes a control unit 102, a controlling network unit 104, a memory unit 106, an indication unit 108, a display unit 110 and a sound receiving and playing unit 112.

[0041] The control unit 102 is electrically connected to the controlling network unit 104, the memory unit 106, the indication unit 108, the display unit 110 and the sound receiving and playing unit 112. The communication between the control unit 102 and the controlled device 200 is achieved by using the controlling network unit 104 to electrically connect to the controlled device 200 via the bridge 390.

[0042] The memory unit 106 of each controller 100 is stored with a controlling performance data representative of the operation performance of the indication unit 108, the display unit 110 and the sound receiving and playing unit 112, such as data for driving the aforementioned units, game sound-effect data and game figure file data. In addition, the memory unit 106 is also stored with a combat parameter value capable of setting the controlled performance data, such as level experience value, armed forces skill upgrading state, life force, etc., based on which group combat or single-user practice game is performed. Furthermore, a backup copy of the combat parameter value is stored into the memory module 206 of the controlled device 200. Therefore, the combat parameter value does not disappear when the game is over. Alternatively, the combat parameter value can be backed up to a personal computer or a cloud server for storage.

[0043] The indication unit 108 is provided to generate control commands representative of movement, attack, etc. for controlling the action of the corresponding controlled device 200. The display unit 110 is provided to display the information of surrounding environment transmitted from the controlled device 200, the virtual animation effect in attacking or under attack, the usable state of virtual supplies/reinforcements item, electricity capacity state of the controlled device 200, and the state of friendly army and enemy. In this embodiment, the indication unit 108 and the display unit 110 are the touch screen of a smart phone. Alternatively, the indication unit 108 is physically operable keypad, and the display unit 110 can be a non-touchable liquid crystal display screen.

[0044] The sound receiving and playing unit 112 is able to transmit the sound, applied to the controller 100 from a player, to the sound receiving and playing module 212 of the controlled device 200 or the sound receiving and playing units of the other controller 100a, 100b, 100c, or to play the sound of surrounding environment received by the controlled device 200 or the sound applied to the controller 100 from the other controllers 100a, 100b, 100c, which is similar to the sound received by a microphone being transmitted over a network to another site for being played by a speaker.

[0045] Next, with reference to FIG. 4, there is shown the architecture of the target in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the target 300 includes a control element 302, a memory element 306, an infrared receiver element 308, a sound playing element 312 and a knock-down and position-reset element 316. The control element 302 is electrically connected to the bridge 390, the memory element 306, the infrared receiver element 308, the sound playing element 312 and the knock-down and position-reset element 316. In this embodiment, the bridge 309 can be arranged on the target 300 and is electrically connected to the control element 302, so that the target 300 becomes a communication center in a combat executed by multiple users. Such a communication architecture has the advantage that the game will not be terminated due to the personal factor of a game operator, for example, the operator having to leave because of personal affair or a gaming device being out of power.

[0046] The following description gives the flowchart design of multi-user combat. Please refer to FIGS. 1-5. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of multi-user combat in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the gaming device has four controllers 100, 100a, 100b, 100c which respectively correspond to four controlled devices 200, 200a, 200b, 200c, so as to proceed with 2-to-2 multi-user combats. At first, each player electrically couples his/her controlled device (200x) and controller (100x) to the bridge 390 so as to form a local area network with the target 300 (step S500). Each player operates the controller for connecting to the controlled device associated with the player, so that the player is able to control his/her controlled device (step S501). Next, a player is taken as a battle establisher who selects and establishes a battle in his/her controller, for example controller 100, and configures related battle parameters, such as battle name, battle time, war-participating password, number of persons participated in war and number of teams participated in war, and then the other players can join this battle (step S502). When the other players select to participate in the battle on their controllers, they can search and find this established battle and thus join the battle. Then, the memory element 306 of the target 300 is provided to store the combat parameter value of each controller 100, 100a, 100b, 100c in this battle (step S503). When related players have joined into the battle, the battle establisher presses to start the battle (step S504). At this moment, the control element 302 records various parameters of the players and computes the damage value of a player under attack for being broadcasted to each of the controllers 100, 100a, 100b, 100c, so as to arbitrate the winners and losers in the gaming battle (step S505). During the gaming battle, the player operates the controller to control controlled device for attacking the enemy. When a team defeats all controlled devices that are not belonged to the team or when the battling time is over and the averaged remaining life power of each team is compared with each other, the winner and loser of the game can be determined (step S506). Then, the control element 302 gives a combat experience value to the corresponding controller 100, 100a, 100b, 100c based on the behavior of the player in the battle, and the memory unit thereof stores and accumulates this combat experience value for use as a condition to upgrade the armed forces skill and determine whether the player satisfies the condition of upgrading. When the upgrading condition is achieved, with the display unit of the controller, the player can operate the indication unit to upgrade items of armed forces skill and so on, so as to increase the player level and configure a better combat parameter value, for example increased life power (step S507).

[0047] The following description gives the flowchart design of single-user practice. Please refer to FIGS. 1-4 and 6. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of single-user practice in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In the single-user practice, the player electrically couples his/her controlled device 200 and controller 100 to the bridge 390 and the target 300 so as to form a local area network (step S600). The player operates the controller 100 for connecting to the controlled device associated with the player, so that the player is able to control his/her controlled device 200 (step S601). Then, the player selects to proceed with single-user target practice on the controller 100 (step S602). At this moment, the control element 302 is responsible for recording various parameters of the player and calculating the damage value of the side under attack for being broadcasted to the controller 100, so as to arbitrate the winner and loser of the game (step S603). On the target 300, there is no element with the function of infrared transmitter that can transmit attack data to the controlled device 200. Therefore, when the target 300 is attacked by the controlled device 200, the control unit 102 will capture the gaming figure file data stored in the memory unit 106 after a period of time for simulating the counterattacking of the target 300, so as to realize the purpose of combating. The sound playing element 312 on the target 300 is able to play predetermined sound-effect when it is under attack or attacking. In addition, the knock-down and position-reset element 316 will automatically fall down when the target 300 is attacked to a predefined extent, such as the state value of the target 300 lowering to zero, and can resume to the original position manually or automatically for proceeding with a next single-user practice, in which the state value of the target 300 is also resumed. When the target 300 falls down or the player is defected due to the counterattacking of the target 300, the winner and loser of the game can be determined (step S604). Then, the control element 302 gives a combat experience value to the controller 100 based on the behavior of the player in the practice. The memory unit 106 stores and accumulates this combat experience value, which is used as a condition for upgrading the armed forces skill, etc., and determining whether the player can rise in rank. When the upgrading condition is achieved, the player is able to use the display unit of the controller 100 to operate the indication unit 108 to upgrade the items of armed forces skill, etc., so as to raise the rank of the player and configure a better combat parameter value, such as increased life power (step S605).

[0048] On the next practice/multi-user combat, the upgraded items implemented for the player can present an updated sound-and-light effect on the display unit 110 and sound receiving and playing unit 112 of the player's controller 100, and the sound receiving and playing module 212, light emitting module 216 and power module 218 of the corresponding controlled device 200. For example, if a player upgrades an attacking weapon, the player can observe different firing effect on the display unit 110 of the controller 100, and the change of damage value to the enemy on the next practice/battle, and hear different firing sound-effect of weapon from the sound receiving and playing unit 112 of the controller 100 and the sound receiving and playing module 212 of the controlled device 200. Furthermore, if a player upgrades the engine of combat carrier, the power module 218 of the controlled device 200 is able to promote its movement speed afterwards.

[0049] In view of the foregoing, it is known that the real-time remote-controlled combat gaming device of the present invention is provided to add the on-line game element of multiple users playing a game into a physical toy, so as to not only increasing the playable character of the physical remote-controlled toy but also improve the reality of the on-line game. Furthermore, in the gaming device of the present invention, a target for single-user practice is further provided so that a single player can also proceed with combat practice to bring up the actual combat strength against other players.

[0050] Although the present invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Claims

1. A real-time remote-controlled combat gaming device comprising: at least a controller, each controller including a control unit, a controlling network unit, a memory unit, an indication unit, a display unit and a sound receiving and playing unit, the control unit being electrically connected to the controlling network unit, the memory unit, the indication unit, the display unit and the sound receiving and playing unit; at least a controlled device controlled by a corresponding controller, each controlled device including a control module, a controlled network module, a memory module, an infrared receiver module, an image capturing module, a sound receiving and playing module, an infrared transmitter module and a light emitting module, the control module being electrically connected to the controlled network module, the memory module, the infrared receiver module, the image capturing module, the sound receiving and playing module, the infrared transmitter module, and the light emitting module; and a bridge electrically connected to the at least a controller and the at least a controlled device, wherein the memory unit of each controller is stored with a combat parameter value capable of changing performance of the corresponding controlled device, such that, when the combat parameter value satisfies a condition of upgrading, the performance of the corresponding controlled device is promoted, so as to present an updated sound-and-light effect.

2. The real-time remote-controlled combat gaming device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each controlled device further includes a power module.

3. The real-time remote-controlled combat gaming device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the memory module of each controlled device is stored with a controlled performance data representative of operation of the image capturing module, the sound receiving and playing module, the infrared transmitter module, the light emitting module and the power module.

4. The real-time remote-controlled combat gaming device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the memory unit of each controller is stored with a controlling performance data representative of operation of the indication unit, the display unit and the sound receiving and playing unit.

5. The real-time remote-controlled combat gaming device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the bridge is disposed on a target.

6. The real-time remote-controlled combat gaming device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the target includes a control element, a memory element, an infrared receiver element and a sound playing element, the control element being electrically connected to the controlled network element, the memory element, the infrared receiver element, the sound playing element and the bridge.

7. The real-time remote-controlled combat gaming device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the memory element of the target is stored with the combat parameter value stored by the memory unit of each controller.

8. The real-time remote-controlled combat gaming device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the target further includes a knock-down and position-reset element.

9. The real-time remote-controlled combat gaming device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each controlled device further includes a rotatable gun turret capable of adjusting a horizontal viewing angle of the image capturing module, and the infrared receiver module is circularly arranged on a periphery of the rotatable gun turret.

10. The real-time remote-controlled combat gaming device as claimed in claim 9, wherein each controlled device further includes a gun tube capable of adjusting a vertical viewing angle of the image capturing module, and the infrared transmitted module is embedded in the gun tube and the light emitting module is installed on top of the gun tube.

11. The real-time remote-controlled combat gaming device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the memory module of each controlled device is stored with the combat parameter value.

12. The real-time remote-controlled combat gaming device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sound receiving and playing unit communicates with the sound receiving and playing module via the controlling network unit and the controlled network module.