CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION A claim for the benefit of priority to the April 21 , 2014 filing date of U.S.

Provisional Patent Application No. 61/982,303, titled DEVICES, LIBRARIES, SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ENABLING GAME PLAY OF DIGITAL VERSIONS OF CIRCLE GAMES ("the '303 Application"). Also a claim for the benefit of priority to the April 22, 2014 filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/982,848, titled DEVICES, LIBRARIES, SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR

ENABLING GAME PLAY OF DIGITAL VERSIONS OF CIRCLE GAMES ("the ' 848 Application"). The entire disclosure of the ' 303 Application and of the '848 Application is hereby incorporated by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to game systems for projecting images onto one or more surfaces and for detecting an individual's interaction with an interactive display area that corresponds to the projected images (e.g., interaction with the surface(s) onto which the image is (are) displayed, with physical objects, with virtual objects, etc.) to enable interactive game play. Even more specifically, game systems are disclosed that communicate with a web-based library of digital versions of board games, card games or other multi-player circle games. Web-based libraries of digital versions of board games, card games or other conventional circle games, or "digital games," are also disclosed. In addition, methods that relate to the selection of digital games and methods that relate to game play of digital games are also disclosed.

RELATED ART

Board games originated thousands of years ago and, since their origination, have provided a basis for social interaction and bonding between individuals. Over recent years, for a number of reasons, the popularity of board games has waned. They have, in large part, been replaced with video games, the popularity of which has increased dramatically over time. Unfortunately, most video games do not provide the same degree of social interaction that board games offer. This disparity in social interaction may be due to a shift in the focus of each player' s attention from other players gathered around a board game to a display, such as video monitor, positioned in front of an individual as he or she plays the video game.

DISCLOSURE

Game systems that shift the focus of game players' attention from a display to other people comprise one aspect of this disclosure. Such a game system may comprise a system for interactively projecting images onto one or more surfaces (e.g., a flat surface, etc.) and detecting intentional movement within an area onto which the images are projected. Such a system is also referred to herein as an "interactive projector."

The interactive projector includes at least one processor configured to execute a program that corresponds to a digital version of a conventional multi-player game, such as a board game, a card game or another conventional circle game that requires interaction between two or more individuals. For purposes of this disclosure,

conventional circle games are referred to as "digital games."

An interactive projector according to this disclosure may be configured to communicate with a remote library of digital games; e.g., the interactive projector may communicate with the library directly or over the internet. Accordingly, the interactive projector may include communication hardware that enables such communication (e.g., over a WiFi network that communicates with a wide area network (WAN) that, in turn, enables communication with the internet; over a wired connection to a local area network (LAN) or WAN that enables communication with the internet; over a cellular data network that enables communication with the internet; etc.).

In some embodiments, the interactive projector may also include one or more user interface components, which may enable a user to communicate with the library through the interactive projector. A non-limiting example of a suitable user interface component is a touch-screen display, which provides both a visual output and input functionality. The user interface component(s) may operate under control of an operating system (e.g., the ANDROID operating system available from Google Inc. of Mountain View, California, etc.) executed by a processor of the interactive projector. Together, the operating system, the processor, the user interface component(s), and the communication hardware may enable the interactive projector to establish communication with a library, enable a user to see which digital games are available from the library, enable a user to select one or more digital games from the library and enable the processor of the interactive projector to receive a program or executable instructions corresponding to each digital game selected by the user.

In other embodiments, instead of a user interface component, the interactive projector may be configured to enable an individual to use another electronic device, for example, a portable electronic device, such as a mobile telephone, a tablet computer, or a portable media player, to interact with a library of digital games. The other electronic device may communicate with the interactive projector wirelessly (e.g., through a BLUETOOTH ^® connection, etc.) or through a wired connection.

The library of digital games, which is also referred to herein as a "game library," may comprise memory and an associated server. Programs that correspond to different digital games, and which will enable a processor (e.g., the processor of an interactive projector, etc.) to execute the program and, thus, the digital game, are stored in the memory. The server that is associated with the memory may provide a user interface (e.g., through an interactive projector, etc.), by which an individual may view the library's selection of digital games, and through which the individual may select and download one or more digital games (e.g. , to an interactive projector, etc.).

In some embodiments, the server may be configured (e.g., programmed, etc.) to limit access to the library to individuals who have subscribed to the library. A

subscription may be trial-based (e.g., available to a user who has recently purchased an interactive projector, etc.) or it may be provided to users who pay a subscription fee (e.g., a one-time fee, a monthly fee, an annual fee, etc.). In other embodiments, access to the server may be unlimited, but the programs that correspond to digital games may only be downloaded by a user upon payment of a fee that corresponds to that digital game. Other techniques for providing users with access to the library and/or for enabling users to download the programs associated with one or more selected digital games may also be employed.

A program for executing a digital game may be configured for execution by a processor of an interactive projector and, thus, to provide an image of the board game that may be projected onto one or more surfaces. In addition, the program may be configured to enable processing of data obtained from a sensor of the interactive projector, such as data that corresponds to intentional movements on or over the surface(s) onto which the board game is (are) projected, which surface(s) is (are) referred to as a "projected interactive play area." Without limitation, such intentional movements may include manipulation of or interaction with physical objects, including three-dimensional physical objects, such as game pieces, dice, cards and the like in the projected interactive play area; physical interaction with digitally projected objects, for example, in the form of finger gestures or hand gestures in the projected interactive play area; and/or touch gestures, including, but not limited to, finger gestures, hand gestures and the like in the projected interactive play area. With such data, the program may determine the significance, if any, of each intentional movement to the state of play of the digital game and, optionally, adjust the projected image of the digital game.

Together, an interactive projector and a program for executing a digital game may comprise a game system that enables two or more individuals to play a digital version of a board game. In addition to the interactive projector and the program, a game system may also incorporate one or more portable electronic devices that are associated with individual players or teams of players. More specifically, the processor of the interactive projector may communicate with the process of a portable electronic device in such a way as to cause the portable electronic device (e.g., under control of an application, or "app," executed by the processor, etc.) to display content (e.g., information, a hand of cards, etc.) that are specific, or personal, to a particular individual or team, that are to be viewable only to that individual or team and that correspond to a particular state of game play. Operation of the portable electronic device (e.g., by way of finger gestures on a touch screen, interaction with buttons on the portable electronic device, etc.) may affect the state of the game being played.

Various methods are also disclosed. A method for providing digital versions of board games includes compiling a library of programs for executing the digital games and making the library available to users who may want to access a particular digital game. Such a method may also include providing a digital game available to a user, for example, by communicating a program that enables game play to the user (e.g., to an interactive projector operated by the user, etc.).

A user may select and retrieve a digital game by accessing a library of digital games. That access may be obtained through an interactive projector, either by use of one or more user interface components of the interactive projector or through another electronic device (e.g., a portable electronic device, such as a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a portable media player or the like; etc.).

An interactive projector may enable a digital game to be played by enabling a user to select the digital game to be played. Once a particular digital game has been selected, a processor of the interactive projector may execute a program for the digital game. Execution of the program includes generating and projecting an image of the digital game onto one or more surfaces, as well as detecting intentional movements on or over the surface(s) onto which the digital game is projected, changing a state of the game based on the intentional movements (if appropriate) and refreshing the projected image of the digital game based on an updated state of the game. Optionally, instructions and/or a demonstration of game play may be provided as part of a method of game play. In addition, such a method may include identifying improper actions taken by one of more individuals during the course of game play, which may be accompanied by corresponding instructions and, in some embodiments, penalties.

Other aspects, as well as features and advantages of various aspects, of the disclosed subject matter will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art through consideration of the ensuing description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 provides a schematic representation of an interactive projector according to this disclosure, which is configured to communicate with one or more remote libraries, to enable a user to access one or more digital games from a remote library and to execute game play of each digital game;

FIG. 2 schematically depicts another embodiment of interactive projector that may be used to obtain one or more digital games from a remote library, to enable a user to access one or more digital games from a remote library and to execute game play of each digital game;

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of a library of digital games; and

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the manner in which an interactive projector (see, e.g., FIGs. 1 and 2) may interact with a library of digital games (see, e.g., FIG. 3).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to FIG. 1, an embodiment of an interactive projector 10 according to this disclosure is illustrated. Some non-limiting examples of portable interactive projectors 10 are disclosed by U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2011/0165923, 2013/0123013, 2013/0150136 and 2014/0015847, and in U.S. Patent Application Nos. 12/411,289, filed on March 25, 2009 and titled "WIRELESSLY DISTRIBUTED ELECTRONIC CIRCLE GAMING;" 12/855,604, filed on August 12, 2010 and titled "PROJECTION OF INTERACTIVE GAME ENVIRONMENT;" 13/968,267, filed on August 15, 2013 and titled "PROJECTOR FOR PROJECTING VISIBLE AND

NON- VISIBLE IMAGES;" and 13/968,232, filed on August 15, 2013 and titled

"MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVE INTERACTIVE IMAGE PROJECTION." These references are collectively referred to as "the MEP Tech Patent Applications. The entire disclosure of each of the MEP Tech Patent Applications is hereby incorporated herein.

The interactive projector 10 includes a processor 12, memory 14 and a library communication component 16, as well as one or more projection elements 20 and one or more sensors 22. In addition, the interactive projector 10 may include one or more user interface components 18. In some embodiments, the interactive projector may also include a peripheral device communication component 24.

The processor 12 is configured to execute one or more programs that enable the interactive projector 10 to perform various functions. Without limitation, such a program may include an operating system, which may enable the processor 12 to enlist the functionality of other components of the interactive projector 10. Without limitation, an operating system may enable the processor 12 to control operation of the library communication component 16, which may establish communication between the interactive projector 10 and a library 100 of digital games (FIG. 3), as will be explained in further detail hereinafter, in reference to FIG. 3.

As another example the operating system may enable the processor 12 to control operation of the peripheral device communication component 24, which may enable the interactive projector to communicate with (e.g., send outputs to, receive inputs from, etc.) external peripheral devices (e.g., portable electronic devices, etc.). Such communication may be useful to enable an individual, or a user, to use an external peripheral device to control operation of the interactive projector 10, to interact with the interactive projector 10 during game play, or for other purposes.

An operating system may also enable the processor 12 to display (e.g., through the projection element(s) 20, through a user interface component 18, etc.) various outputs. Such an output may include a list of digital games that have been stored in memory 14 associated with the processor 12. Upon selection of a particular digital game from such a list (e.g., as an individual interacts (e.g., by finger gestures, etc.) with a surface onto which the list is projected, as an individual interacts with a user interface component 18 that displays the list, etc.), a program corresponding to that digital game may also be executed by the processor 12.

The processor 12 may, therefore, control operation of the digital game, including, but not limited to, generating outputs to the projection element(s) 20 and/or one or more peripheral devices 40 (FIG. 3), receipt of inputs from the sensor(s) 22 and/or one or more peripheral devices 40, processing each input, updating a state of play of the game based on each appropriate input and corresponding refreshing the output. In some embodiments, the program may cause the processor 12 to animate portions of an image projected onto or above a surface. In addition, the processor 12, when operating under control of a program for a digital game, may perform a variety of other functions that relate to game play.

The projection element(s) 20 may be configured to project an image of the digital game onto one or more surfaces, such as a tabletop. In some embodiments, an interactive projector 10 may include a plurality of projection elements 20 that are configured to display a three-dimensional representation of various components of the digital game (e.g., game pieces, dice, cards, etc.).

The sensor(s) 22 of the interactive projector are configured to sense interactions between an individual and a surface onto which an image of a digital game is projected and, thus, displayed.

Turning now to FIG. 2, another embodiment of interactive projector 10' is depicted. Interactive projector 10' includes many of the same features of the embodiment of interactive projector 10 illustrated by and described in reference to FIG. 1. However, interactive projector 10' is configured, through a peripheral device communication component 24, to enable an individual to control certain features of the interactive projector 10' through a peripheral device 40; thus, the peripheral device 40 may provide a user interface to the interactive projector 10'. For example, an individual may use a peripheral device 40 to determine the digital games that are stored in memory 14 of the interactive projector 10' and to select a digital game to be played using the interactive projector 10'. As another example of the interaction between a peripheral device 40 and the interactive projector 10', a peripheral device 40 may be used to enable an individual to access a library 100 (FIG. 3) of digital games through the interactive projector 10' and to interact with the library 100 (e.g., select one or more digital games to be downloaded to the memory 14 of the interactive projector 10', etc.) through the interactive projector 10'. In embodiments where a peripheral device 40 may serve as a user interface to the interactive projector 10', the interactive projector 10' may lack a user interface component 18 (FIG. 1).

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of a library 100 of digital games. The library 100 includes memory 110 (e.g., cloud-based memory, etc.) and a server 120. The memory 110 stores programs that correspond to a plurality of digital games. The memory 110 may store digital versions of conventional circle games. Examples of conventional circle games include card games, board games and the like. Some non-limiting examples of board games include the conventional board games available from Hasbro, Inc., its subsidiaries Parker Brothers and Wizards of the Coast, Mattel, Inc., and others.

The server 120 provides a user interface and access to the contents of the memory 110. More specifically, the server 120 may provide an interface for an individual using an interactive projector that incorporates teachings of this disclosure

(e.g., interactive projector 10, interactive projector 10', etc.). Alternatively, or in addition, the server 120 may be configured to interface with another electronic device 140, such as a computer, a portable electronic device or the like, to enable an individual to select one or more digital games that are to be communicated by the server 120 to a specified interactive projector 10, 10' for download or game play by the specified interactive projector 10, 10'.

Referring to FIG. 4, an embodiment of a system 200 for enabling the selection of one or more digital games and game play is illustrated. The system 200 includes a library 100 of a plurality of digital games, one or more interactive projectors

(e.g., interactive projector 10, interactive projector 10', etc.), and at least one surface S onto which an image of a digital game may be displayed, and on or over which motions that are intended to affect a state of play of the digital game are sensed. Optionally, the system 200 may also include one or more peripheral devices 40, 140, which may enable an individual to interact with one or both of the interactive projector 10, 10' and the library 100.

Although the foregoing disclosure provides many specifics, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of any of the ensuing claims. Other embodiments may be devised which do not depart from the scopes of the claims. Features from different embodiments may be employed in combination. The scope of each claim is, therefore, indicated and limited only by its plain language and the full scope of available legal equivalents to its elements.