Patent ID: 9393491
Filing Date: 2016-07-19
CPC Classification: A63F,A63H,A63J,G06F,G09G

Claim Text:
1. A dual-mode gaming system for playing an interactive game wherein a first game mode is carried out in a computer-generated play environment via one or more computer animations provided by a first gaming device and wherein a second game mode is carried out in a physical play environment via one or more physical toys associated with a second gaming device, said dual-mode gaming system comprising: one or more gaming toys each representing a person, character or object in said game, each of said one or more gaming toys comprising a passive radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, each said RFID tag comprising: (i) a unique tag identification (ID) uniquely identifying said corresponding gaming toy in said game, and (ii) non-volatile, programmable memory configured to store a first selection of information comprising one or more changeable attributes of said corresponding person, character or object in said game; a second gaming device configured to communicate with said first gaming device and to wirelessly power and communicate with said one or more gaming toys, said second gaming device comprising: i) an RFID reader configured to wirelessly power and communicate with each said RFID tag when in readable proximity therewith so as to ascertain a second selection of information, including at least said unique tag ID and said first selection of information, and to communicate said second selection of information to said first gaming device; and ii) an effects controller configured to control one or more associated sound or lighting effects in accordance with said game; and game software stored on a storage device and configured to be executed by said first and second gaming devices to carry out said game, said game software comprising program instructions that, upon execution: (i) cause said first gaming device to display in said computer-generated play environment a person, character or object having attributes corresponding to said first selection of information; and (ii) cause said second gaming device to modify said first selection of information based on a game participant's progress or performance in said game.