A play system, comprising: one or more toys comprising one or more electrically conductive parts, the one or more conductive parts defining a spatial pattern, the one or more toys having a physical configuration that is modifiable by a user, the spatial pattern being dependent on the physical configuration of the one or more toys, the one or more toys including a first toy; a magnetic field generating device arranged to generate a magnetic field for inducing an eddy current in one or more of the electrically conductive parts; a sensor configured to detect the induced eddy current; and a data processor; wherein the first toy and at least one of the magnetic field generating device and the sensor are movable relative to each other; wherein the sensor is configured to detect the induced eddy current during relative movement between the first toy and at least one of the magnetic field generating device and the sensor, and wherein the data processor is configured to: receive sensor data from the sensor, the sensor data being indicative of the eddy current detected during relative movement between the first toy and at least one of the magnetic field generating device and the sensor, detect the spatial pattern of the electrically conductive parts based at least in part on the received sensor data, determine the physical configuration of the one or more toys based on the detected spatial pattern.

An apparatus, which is configured for external operation of a computer program or application installed into a computerized device, includes a reader tray and a plurality of tag modules. The reader tray, having a plurality of identification areas, includes a reader module and a communication module for communicatively connecting to the computerized device that stores and executes the computer program or application. Each of the tag modules stores one or more predetermined tag information, wherein when the tag modules are selectively placed on the identification areas, the reader module reads the tag information of the tag modules to generate an output signal in response to a location sequence of the tag modules for operating the computer program or application through the communication module.

An electronic card game system and method using NFC or RFID electromagnetic communication, including an initiator having a driving coil, a first card having a secondary coil with a capacitor, and a playing piece having a receiving coil. The initiator and the first card may be placed on a playing surface so that at least a portion of the driving coil and at least a portion of the secondary coil overlap. Similarly, the first card and the playing piece may be placed on a playing surface so that at least a portion of the receiving coil and at least a second portion of the secondary coil overlap. These overlapped coils allow a driving signal initiated at the driving coil to be transmitted through the secondary coil and received by the receiving coil.

A digitizer system comprises at least one object incorporating an electronic tag configured for radiating at least one modulated signal and at least one second signal; a digitizer sensor configured for detecting the at least one second signal while the object is positioned on or over the digitizer sensor; and circuitry configured for identifying the object based on modulation of the at least one modulated signal and for determining a position of the object on or over the digitizer based on the detected second signal on a portion of the digitizer sensor.

Disclosed is a method for determining a first common interaction surface (503) of a mobile device (501) with a second interaction surface (502) of a host device (500), the method including the following steps: detecting at least one electrical signal induced by at least one inducing magnetic field in at least one electric circuit of the host device (500) associated with the second surface (502); determining an interaction surface (503) of the mobile device (501) associated with the at least one inducing electromagnetic field; performing a level test (1106) in accordance with the at least one induced electrical signal; and determining the first common interaction surface (503) as being the interaction surface of the mobile device (501) associated with the at least one inducing electromagnetic field, according to a result of the level test (1106).

A light-emitting toy assembly including a field generator that includes a first transmitting coil configured to inductively transmit energy and an object. The object includes a body, at least a part of which is translucent, at least one receiving coil configured to inductively receive energy from the first transmitting coil, and a lighting element having at least one light emitting diode that is configured to receive a current from a corresponding one of the at least one receiving coils. At least one of the first transmitting coil and the object is movable with respect to the other of the first transmitting coil and the object. A change in a rotational orientation of at least one of the first transmitting coil and the object alters a lighting state of the lighting element.

A physical-virtual gaming system comprising a game board including a multiplicity of physical locations, a game overlay including a multiplicity of logical locations, and game pieces for moving throughout the logical locations. The system tracks the physical locations of the game pieces and translates these physical locations into the logical locations using pre-known physical-to-logical location mapping information. Game boards, game overlays and game pieces can be individualized with their own unique identifiers. As game pieces are moved, a game database comprising at least current game piece locations and the game state are maintained. Based at least in part upon the current game piece locations and game state the system provides actions including outputting any of virtual content and information on any of a shared or private computing device running a game app. Actions also include causing changes to game devices including wearables.

An entity enabled interactive gaming platform for deepening the engagement of a customer with an entity comprising and entity global eco-system and an interactive gaming system where the entity alters the provision of a product or service to a customer based at least in part upon any one of or any combination of game play datum associated with the customer having played an entity game. The global eco-system comprises a game structure including game rules, a game database and game overlay descriptions sufficient for printing or otherwise creating a physical game overlay. The interactive gaming system comprises a physical game board with a replaceable physical game overlay, game app and one or more electronically trackable physical game pieces including an identifier, where the replaceable game overlay is printed or otherwise created based at least in part upon the game overlay descriptions associated with the entity game to be played.

The electronic game table is a table setup, along with an app, that facilitates the play of role-playing games and other board games by players either in present, or connected remotely. The movements of pieces by players in person are recognized by the table, and the events are sent to the app. On the other side, remote players make changes to the board through the app, which contacts the physical electronic table, and the table automatically moves the corresponding pieces as the app directs. In addition, the table has built-in speakers to give audio output to physically-present players, and a OLED screen embedded in the table top as to give visual response to the users or otherwise simulate the playing board.

An entity enabled interactive gaming platform for deepening the engagement of a customer with an entity comprising and entity global eco-system and an interactive gaming system where the entity alters the provision of a product or service to a customer based at least in part upon any one of or any combination of game play datum associated with the customer having played an entity game. The global eco-system comprises a game structure including game rules, a game database and game overlay descriptions sufficient for printing or otherwise creating a physical game overlay. The interactive gaming system comprises a physical game board with a replaceable physical game overlay, game app and one or more electronically trackable physical game pieces including an identifier, where the replaceable game overlay is printed or otherwise created based at least in part upon the game overlay descriptions associated with the entity game to be played.