Robot Game for Multiple Players that is Remotely Controlled over a Network

Abstract

An amusement system comprising a game field and a plurality of robots that are manipulated by a plurality of user interface controllers at a remote location relative to the game field. A network links each of the user interface controllers to one of the robots to cause the robot to perform at least one action. A video camera focuses on the game field to provide a streaming image of the game field through the network. A video display device at the remote location receives the streaming video image from the network and displays the streaming video image of the robots. A method of providing a game that involves controlling a plurality of electronically controlled mechanical robots over a communication network that provides streaming video from a streaming video system to the user interface controllers at a remote location.

1 . A system comprising:
 a predefined game area;   at least one robot disposed in the game area;   at least one user interface controller at a remote location that is remote from the game area;   a network that links one of the at least one user interface controllers to provide an electronic command signal to one of the at least one robots to cause the robot to perform at least one action;   a video camera directed towards the game area that provides a streaming video image of the at least one robot to the network; and   a video display device at the remote location that receives the streaming video image from the network and displays the streaming video image of the at least one robot.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a module that provides a game area, wherein the module includes a floor and a wall enclosing the floor. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the module further includes a ceiling that is disposed in a parallel plane relative to the floor, and wherein an AC/DC converter is connected to the floor and the ceiling to provide a voltage between the floor and the ceiling. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the module further comprises a charging system for charging the robot. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the robot further comprises a miniature video camera that provides a robot point-of-view streaming video. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the robot further comprises a sensor selected from the group consisting of:
 a proximity sensor, 
 a photocell; or 
 an RFID sensor. 
 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the robot further comprises an RFID sensor, and wherein at least one RFID tag is disposed in the game area that actuates the RFID sensor when the RFID sensor is moved to a location in close proximity to the RFID tag. 
     
     
         8 . An amusement system comprising:
 a game field;   a plurality of robots disposed in the game field;   a plurality of user interface controllers at a remote location relative to the game field;   a network that links each of the user interface controllers to one of the robots to provide at least one control signal to the robot to cause the robot to perform at least one action;   a video camera directed towards the game field that provides a streaming image of the game field to the network; and   a video display device at the remote location that receives the streaming video image from the network and displays the streaming video image of the robots.   
     
     
         9 . The amusement system of  claim 8  wherein the video camera is disposed above the game field to provide a top plan view of the game field. 
     
     
         10 . The amusement system of  claim 8  further comprising a second video camera in addition to the video camera that provides a second perspective of the game field. 
     
     
         11 . The amusement system of  claim 8  further comprising a multi-player game server the receives provides control signals to a plurality of robots to control movement of the robots, and that also controls game play and communicates with a scoring system. 
     
     
         12 . The amusement system of  claim 11  further comprising a wireless communication link that operatively links the multi-player game server to the robots. 
     
     
         13 . The amusement system of  claim 8  wherein the user interface controllers are selected from the group consisting of:
 a computer; 
 a telephone; or 
 a game controller. 
 
     
     
         14 . The amusement system of  claim 8  wherein the at least one control signal may be used to accelerate, stop, turn, operate a shooting device, operate an arm, or operate a lever associated with the at least one robot. 
     
     
         15 . A method of providing a game that includes a game floor, a plurality of electronically controlled mechanical robots, a communication network, and a plurality of game user interfaces, the game comprising:
 accessing a web server through the communication network;   logging into a game server;   streaming video from a streaming video system to the game user interface of an image of the game floor and the robots;   interacting through a game user interface with one of the robots to command the robot to perform a function; and   selecting a robot with the user interface controller.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the robot is commanded to perform a function in response to signals received from the game user interface and provides a data packet to the game user interface to indicate a successful action. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the data packet is routed through a game server and a browser interface to the game user interface. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the streaming video is the sole image of the game floor and robots that is visible from the game user interface. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the robot includes an RFID interface that indicates that a destination is successfully obtained when the robot moves within range of an RFID tag.