PUZZLE SYSTEM, INTERACTIVE CUBE PUZZLE GAME, INTERACTIVE ELECTRONIC PUZZLE GAME SYSTEM, AND METHODS OF USE

Abstract

The present invention relates to a novel puzzle system that includes an interactive cube puzzle game and methods of use. It provides a puzzle game concept that is implemented as a three-dimensional game or a two-dimensional game, in which a user achieves success by matching a target pattern based on manipulation of identifiable elements. It comprises a plurality of connected elements, a plurality of identifiable elements, a plurality of user interface elements and is configured to operate based on the transition of the plurality of the identifiable elements from a first position to a second position to obtain a target pattern. The transition from the first position to the second position includes variation in the plurality of the identifiable elements.

Claims

1. An interactive puzzle game system, comprising: a plurality of connected elements; a plurality of identifiable elements; a plurality of user interface elements; the plurality of connected elements is further divided into a plurality of center block elements and a plurality of side block elements; a side of the plurality of center block elements is enclosed by the plurality of side block elements; the center block and the side block elements of the connected elements are associated with the identifiable elements; each of the side block elements is associated with one of the user interface elements, wherein the interactive puzzle game system is configured to operate based on the movement of the plurality of the identifiable elements from a first position to a second position, wherein the movement includes variation in the plurality of the identifiable elements;

2. The interactive puzzle system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the puzzle game is solved based on matching of a target pattern by the corresponding identifiable elements from the plurality of the identifiable elements.

3. The interactive puzzle system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the target pattern consists of a plurality of target locations and a plurality of target identifiable elements associated with each of the target locations.

4. The interactive puzzle system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of identifiable elements is realized, without being limited to this, in the form of multi-color LEDs.

5. The interactive puzzle system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the variation of the plurality of the identifiable elements is based on change in colors of LEDs.

6. The interactive puzzle system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the user interface elements include but are not limited to a plurality of switches and/or buttons.

7. The interactive puzzle system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the target pattern is modified based on whether the movement of the plurality of identifiable elements exceeds a threshold value at a predefined time.

8. The interactive puzzle system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the target pattern is set by a user.

9. The interactive puzzle system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the target pattern is set randomly.

10. The interactive puzzle system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the target pattern is reset based on user's input or under a specific condition.

11. The interactive puzzle system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connected elements are arranged in a multi-dimensional array.

12. The interactive puzzle system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shape of the connected elements includes but is not limited to a square, a hexagon, an octagon, a circle, a different polygon, or other shape or the like.

13. The interactive puzzle system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the puzzle system includes a main body formed of any suitable size, shape, and design.

14. The interactive puzzle system as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the identifiable elements is temporarily or permanently hidden.

15. The interactive puzzle system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interactive puzzle system operates in a variety of modes.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] FIG. 1 shows a basic structure of a puzzle system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] FIG. 2a shows a diagram for manipulation and movement principle of the puzzle system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] FIG. 2b shows the basic flow of manipulation when the movement occurs in the puzzle system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] FIG. 3 shows 2×2 dimensional array of the puzzle system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] FIG. 4 shows 2×2 dimensional array cube concept of the puzzle system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] FIG. 5 illustrates the center block elements of a 3-dimensional 2×2 version of the Cube (without the side layers/side block elements) in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] FIG. 6 illustrates a complete version of the same type of the Cube (with the side layers/side block elements) in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] The drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification are included to depict certain aspects of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0034] In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the present invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the present invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that mechanical, procedural, and other changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

[0035] As used herein, the terminology such as vertical, horizontal, top, bottom, front, back, end, sides and the like are referenced according to the views, pieces and figures presented. It should be understood, however, that the terms are used only for purposes of description, and are not intended to be used as limitations. Accordingly, orientation of an object or a combination of objects may change without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0036] Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “one example,” or “an example” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment.

[0037] Embodiments in accordance with the present invention may be embodied as an apparatus, method, or computer program product. Accordingly, the present invention may take the form of an entirely hardware-comprised embodiment, an entirely software-comprised embodiment (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.), or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may all generally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module,” or “system.” Furthermore, embodiments of the present invention may take the form of a computer program product embodied in any tangible medium.

[0038] Any combination of one or more computer-usable or computer-readable media may be utilized. For example, a computer-readable medium may include one or more of a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM) device, a read-only memory (ROM) device, an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory) device, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CDROM), an optical storage device, and a magnetic storage device. Computer program code for carrying out operations of the present invention may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages. Such code may be compiled from source code to computer-readable assembly language or machine code suitable for the device or computer on which the code will be executed.

[0039] Embodiments may also be implemented in cloud computing environments. In this description and the following claims, “cloud computing” may be defined as a model for enabling ubiquitous, convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g., networks, servers, storage, applications, and services) that can be rapidly provisioned via virtualization and released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction and then scaled accordingly. A cloud model can be composed of various characteristics (e.g., on-demand self-service, broad network access, resource pooling).

[0040] The present invention relates to a puzzle game in which a user achieves success by matching a target pattern through the manipulation of identifiable elements.

[0041] As seen in FIG. 1, the present invention provides a puzzle system 10 that comprises a cube puzzle game concept, which can be implemented as a three-dimensional or as a two-dimensional puzzle game. The puzzle system 10 is configured to operate from a plurality of identifiable elements 11. The identifiable elements are manipulated by a user to achieve a target pattern. The identifiable elements 11 are in the form of multi-color light emitting diodes. The actual color of the multi-color light emitting diodes at any point in time are determined by the game programming. The light emitting diodes do not move while playing gameplay. The movement is caused by a user in a virtual way by game programming that changes the colors of the light emitting diodes.

[0042] The puzzle system 10 is based on a plurality of center block elements 12 which is generally cube shaped. The center block elements 12 further comprises of a plurality of side elements 13, formed of (possibly smaller) cubes thus making up a larger center cube. Each of the sides of the center block elements 12 contains the plurality of side elements 13 formed by the (possibly smaller) cubes. Each of the side elements 13 contains an identifiable element 11 which a user manipulates. Each of the side elements 13 provides a user interface element 14. A user interacts during gameplay to activate and/or deactivate and/or interface with the puzzle system 10.

[0043] The three-dimensional puzzle system 10 has at least one of six sides or is a 2×2×2 cube. However, other sizes featuring various numbers of identifiable elements are also hereby contemplated for use including a 2×2×2 cube, or a 3×3×3 cube, or a 4×4×4 cube, or a 5×5×5 cube, or a 6×6×6 cube, or a 7×7×7 cube, or an 8×8×8 cube, or a 9×9×9 cube, and more and in various shapes such as regular polyhedrons and irregular polyhedrons.

[0044] As seen in FIG. 2(a), where 4 elements are connected, the present invention provides a set of connected elements (12, 13), which always contains on both sides side elements that are associated with user interface (UI) elements 14 that can be activated by the player. For each set of connected elements, one of the identifiable elements 11 on one of the sides of the set of connected elements always shows the “empty” state, which can be represented by a Light Emitting Diode (LED) that is switched off (in an electronic realization of the cube concept) or by an empty slot (in a mechanical realization of the cube concept).

[0045] As seen in FIG. 2(b), the present invention shows that when the UI element 14 on any of the two sides of the set of connected elements (13, 14) is activated, the identifiable elements 11 move through the set of the connected elements in such a way that each identifiable element moves by one element (or by one “position”). After the move, the identifiable element that originally had the “empty” state now represents the element that had previously been next to it. The identifiable element at the other side of the set of the connected elements is now “empty”. The overall effect of this movement is from the first position (FIG. 2(a)) to the second position (FIG. 2(b)). If any of the UI elements on any of the two sides of the set of connected elements is activated in the situation shown in FIG. 2(b), then all identifiable elements move back to the previous position as shown in FIG. 2(a).

[0046] FIG. 3 shows a coloring of the sides of a set of connected elements in a 2×2 2-dimensional pattern with side elements. The left side is colored green; the right side is colored red; the upper side is colored blue; the lower side is colored yellow. The coloring of the sides indicates the target color for the identifiable element that should be moved into this position. One side shows the “solved” state for color red, while other side shows the “solved” state for color green—and so on also for colors blue and yellow.

[0047] The sets of connected elements are intersecting in the overall puzzle game, so that the identifiable elements move between the sets of connected elements and move across the entire puzzle game.

[0048] FIG. 3 shows a more complete 2-dimensional 2×2 version of the Cube concept. Here, four of the sets of connected elements are intersecting—2 horizontally and 2 vertically. There are now 12 identifiable elements and 8 UI (side) elements.

[0049] In FIG. 4, which has been obtained from an interactive Scratch implementation, the overall gameplay is illustrated (and simulated) in a more complete way for a 2-dimensional 2×2 version of the Cube concept. As shown, pressing on the green flag starts the game and pressing the RESET button resets the game, pressing the SHOW button makes it possible to see all of the identifiable elements. (Hiding the identifiable elements in the centre block represents an “advanced” game mode, where the players cannot see all of the relevant information, at least not all of the time.) There are two identifiable elements each for the colors green, red, yellow and blue. (In FIG. 4, the identifiable elements for the colors yellow and blue are hidden.) Four identifiable (side) elements are (see above) always “empty”.

[0050] The objective in this version of the game is to move the green identifiable elements from the top to the green target fields on the bottom and to also move the red identifiable elements from the left to the red target fields on the right. The UI elements are represented by the numbers from 1 to 4, which are clicked on the screen or pressed on the keyboard. For more complex versions of the game (e.g., 2-dimensional 3×3, 3-dimensional 2×2×2 or 3-dimensional 3×3×3, the game mechanics are still the same. The identifiable elements are moved according to the rules for manipulating specific sets of connected elements, where always one identifiable element in each set of connected elements shows the empty state. The UI elements are used to indicate which set of connected elements is manipulated for each “move” of the game.

[0051] FIG. 5 illustrates the center block elements of a 3-dimensional 2×2 version of the Cube (without the side layers/side elements), while FIG. 6 illustrates a complete version of the same type of the Cube (with the side layers/side elements).

[0052] The puzzle system 10 is solved when specific target patterns are achieved/matched (for example, when specific identifiable elements are located at each of the target locations). A full target pattern consists of a set of target locations as well as of a target identifiable element for each of the target locations.

[0053] The puzzle system 10 includes a physical cube system formed of any suitable size, shape, and design and is configured as the primary physical structure which a user interacts with during gameplay. The physical cube system includes a main body formed of any suitable size, shape, and design and is configured as the main body and/or main portion of the cube system and in this way houses and holds various components of the cube system.

[0054] In general, the main body includes a plurality of side elements, a first face extending a length from a first end to a second end between opposing sides, and having a plurality of cube portions and a plurality of identifiable elements, and a plurality of cube elements, and a plurality of switches, among other components, features, and functionality. Similarly, the main body includes a second face, a third face, a fourth face, a fifth face, and a sixth face.

[0055] The puzzle system is configured to provide movement with one identifiable element included within each connected elements, of which one identifiable element on one of the sides is always “empty”, moving, after being activated via a user by a user interface element, from one side of the system towards the other side of the system.

[0056] The puzzle system 10 includes a graphical user interface gameplay system which includes, but is not limited to, two-dimensional puzzle engagement, virtual reality puzzle engagement, augmented reality puzzle engagement systems, and the like). The system 10 is operated by a plurality of users (also known as “player”, or “plurality of players”, or “individual”, or “group of individuals”, or “collaborators”). The user includes but is not limited to an individual person, a group of people, and/or an entity such as a business, an organization or the like.

[0057] The puzzle system 10 includes a hidden mode which is an advanced mode of the puzzle game wherein some of the identifiable elements are not visible during all or parts of gameplay and users memorize the position of identifiable elements in order to successfully pursue their strategies to reach a specific target pattern. The hidden mode is accomplished through game programming which does not display the colors of the hidden identifiable elements. The identifiable elements are hidden through off indicators and/or hiding indicators or as a result of the physical location of the hidden identifiable elements, which physically prevents the player from seeing certain parts of the puzzle system 10. In FIG. 4, the identifiable elements in the center of the puzzle are hidden.

[0058] The graphical user interface system includes a reset feature (or “reset on user request or after solution feature”). In the electronic version of puzzle game system 10, the target pattern is reset either based on an explicit request made by the user or after the puzzle game is solved and/or a target pattern is reached. A new target pattern is set when requested by the user or after the previous target pattern is achieved. In this way, system 10 provides for continuous game flow, so that a user can pursue a new target pattern immediately after achieving the previous target pattern. The graphical user interface system further includes a set of user defined targets formed of any suitable feature, function, size, shape, and design and are configured so that a user can input the target pattern. The user sets the target pattern via a suitable user interface mechanism. The user sets the target locations as well as the target identifiable elements that need to be moved to these target locations. The graphical user interface further includes a set of dynamic targets formed of any suitable feature, function, size, shape, and design and are configured such that the target pattern is dynamically modified based on game parameters and/or a predetermined set of rules within a memory and/or within the game programming. The target pattern may be modified if a certain number of moves and/or a certain amount of time is passed. If the user has not solved the game based on current targets within a predetermined parameter, the target pattern is modified so that the player adjusts strategy and/or the target pattern is modified in a way which is easier to achieve, or the like. The graphical user interface includes various viewing settings including but not limited to a full screen mode, a window mode, a close-up mode, and a wide screen mode, among other settings and functionalities.

[0059] The puzzle system 10 further includes an invitations feature. Invitations are formed of any suitable size, shape, and design and are configured to share information with a second person and/or group about engaging in gameplay. The invitation features include but is not limited to a messaging feature and/or voice feature for discussing strategy and interactions within the same game online or through other connected devices. The peer to peer linking includes but not limited to cloud and/or information streaming and/or sharing is utilized such that more than one person engages with system 10. The plurality of users in various remote locations compete, collaborate and engage with the same and/or different game board platforms as well as one another.

[0060] The puzzle system 10 comprises remote servers, databases, and/or computers that fulfill the functions disclosed and described herein. In the embodiment depicted, system 10 comprises at least one application server. Application server comprises one or more computer systems adapted to transmit and receive data regarding selected datasets related to various users and/or datasets related to multiple users adapted to a query database with unique identification codes to retrieve data information and/or parameters related to users, projects, items, textual responses, and more. Application servers transmit user data related to layers and rules with respect to a single user and/or multiple users and also adapted to query a user database. This query includes receiving and sending user identification codes and user data and/or textual responses. Additionally, the application server may communicate with a mobile application, which is adapted to present the user information in a form conducive to being viewed on a mobile device and/or handheld device.

[0061] As one of ordinary skill in the art may understand, application server, project database, and other databases mentioned herein is implemented in one or more servers. Furthermore, each of the multiple servers increase system efficiency, especially when handling large data gathering, data organizing, such as handling global positioning of a user, following extended rules for various functionality of system 10 and/or processing, updating user information, including various responses entered.

[0062] Additionally, system 10 includes a remote server, a computing system, includes an application programming interface (“API”) which includes tools and resources enabling a user to operate the embodiments herein, and a cloud computing system. The system includes smart devices and/or system 10 includes computing systems. Computing system is formed of any suitable size, shape, and design and configured to handle computing operations, as are necessary for the operation of the computing functionality of system 10. Computing system may be connected with an electronic network and/or database and/or server or cloud via communication means and includes a processor, a memory, a microcontroller, a printed circuit board, a microprocessor, a receiver/transceiver, among other components. The computing devices are capable of displaying and manipulating data and includes for example a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet, smart phone, or any other computing device or other interactive device. Computing devices includes a single consolidated component, or alternatively, computing devices are formed of a plurality of interconnected components that are co-located or located at different geographic locations. Computing devices are either cloud-based or hardware-based, or cloud capable. In addition, the connected components of computing devices include processor, memory, software and interactive user display, co-located with computing devices or located at different geographic locations. That is, computing devices are made of any form of a device or system that individually or collectively performs the computing operations of system 10. The system 10 includes a printed circuit board (“PCB”) formed of any suitable size, shape and design and is configured to facilitate carrying and/or holding other components and/or parts necessary to carry out various computation and/or related functions of system 10. PCB, as one example, is either a surface mounted PCB or a through-hole PCB. PCB, as one example, is green and facilitates connecting the components and/or parts of system 10 by the use of traces and or vias. Traces are formed of any suitable size, shape and design and are configured as lines electrically connecting the components and/or parts of system 10. Vias are formed of any suitable size, shape and design and are configured as holes that connect layers of traces together. Generally, as in shown, traces and vias are soldered to connect the components and/or parts to the PCB. The puzzle system 10 is run by a microprocessor that receives and processes information and outputs commands according to instructions stored in memory. Memory is any form of information storage such as flash memory, RAM memory, a hard drive, or any other form of memory. Memory may be included as a part of or operably connected to a microprocessor. A receiver/transceiver is connected to a microprocessor. A receiver is used if one way communication is utilized, whereas a transceiver is used if two-way communication is utilized (hereinafter “transceiver”). The system 10 includes memory formed of any suitable size, shape and design and is configured to facilitate selective storage and retrieval of data (including data) in association with computing devices, processor, software and interactive user display. Memory may be a single component, such as a single chip or drive or other memory device, or alternatively memory may be formed of a plurality of memory or storage components that are connected to one another that may be co-located or located at different geographic locations.

[0063] Method of Use

[0064] A method of use of gameplay contains, on both sides, side elements that are associated with user interface elements which are activated and/or deactivated by a player. In this way, each set of connected elements is associated with the identifiable elements on each one of the sides of the set of connected elements, one of which always shows an “empty” state. An empty state, in this example, is represented by a light emitting diode that is switched off or by an empty slot. When a user activates a user interface element on any of the sides of the set of connected elements, the identifiable elements move through the set of the connected elements via the game programming predetermined rules that each of the connected elements moves by one element (or by one position). After this move is completed by the game programming, the identifiable element that previously showed empty now represents the element that was previously shown next to this element. For example, a user moves a represented element from first position to second position. In the example above, second position would be an empty position. First position is represented as red. First position is connected to second position, so that when a user activates first position, the red element is moved to second position. In this way, second position now shows red while first position changes to empty. Single occurrences, such as this example, or multiple occurrences happen affecting multiple positions when a user activates a single element. Said another way, and in another example, a sequence of four connected elements, which show the color sequence red, yellow, green and “empty”, after the activation of these connected elements show the color sequence “empty”, red, yellow and green. All colors are moved by one position and the “empty” position is now on the other side of the sequence of connected elements.

[0065] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other various modifications could be made to the device without parting from the spirit and scope of this present invention (especially various programmable features). All such modifications and changes fall within the scope of the claims and are intended to be covered thereby.

[0066] [71] The present invention provides systems and methods of use which provide a number of beneficial and entertaining gaming and/or puzzle activities for users of all ages. Various methods of use, further disclosed within, provide activities that aid in stimulating thought, logical skill development, creativity skill development, and may also aid in keeping minds and memories sharp and stimulated. This includes, but is not limited to mental maintenance and/or mental development, as well as the development and maintenance of fine motor skills and maintenance of these skills of users.

[0067] [72] Therefore, the present invention provides systems and methods of use which may aid in the maintenance and development of creativity of various individuals, including but not limited to, aging citizens, and aging citizens who may have suffered trauma. Additionally, the present invention provides systems and methods of use that may reduce stress and/or anxiety levels in a variety of users and/or in users who may have suffered trauma and/or another occurrence.