Smart chess board system and method with situationally conscious smart chess pieces

Abstract

A chess board game apparatus (100) and system (200) are disclosed that provides chess pieces that are situationally aware and may change their colours during the game based on certain triggers, manual interventions, player selection, game preferences, AI inputs, strategical manipulations, specific moves or game plays, et cetera with or without impacting the winning probability of either of the players post such a trigger. Thus, the game apparatus (100) and system (200) enable dynamic mid-game switching of chess piece colours and allegiance without altering the fundamental rules of chess. The system (200) incorporates user interface, processing, and communication modules for local or remote play, and may operate in physical, digital, or hybrid modes. The present disclosure also discloses a method (300) implements gameplay monitoring, eligibility assessment, and controlled switching of piece allegiance. A standalone smart chess piece and a control unit executing stored instructions are also disclosed.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A chess board game apparatus ( 100 ) comprising:
 a game board ( 102 ) having a plurality of squares;   a plurality of chess pieces ( 104 ), each chess piece ( 104 ) comprising a body ( 106 ) formed of a light-transmissive material, the body ( 106 ) having at least a portion transparent or translucent so as to permit visual perception of a color change produced by a color-changing module;   a communication receiver ( 112 ) to receive control signals;   a power source;   a piece-tracking and identification system integrated into the game board ( 102 ); and   a control unit ( 126 ) housed within or operatively connected to the game board ( 102 ), the control unit ( 126 ) comprising a microcontroller or processor ( 128 ) associated with a plurality of modules, the modules comprising:
 a trigger detection module ( 130 ) to detect a switching trigger event, 
 an eligibility and fairness module ( 132 ) to determine switching eligibility of chess pieces ( 104 ) based on preset rules and win-probability thresholds, 
 a communication module ( 134 ) to transmit control signals to the communication receivers ( 112 ) of the chess pieces ( 104 ), and 
 a power management module ( 136 ) to manage power delivery to the chess pieces ( 104 ) and to onboard components of the game board ( 102 ), 
   
       wherein the control unit ( 126 ) monitors gameplay, detects a switching trigger event, identifies eligible chess pieces ( 104 ) for switching, and transmits control signals to the color-changing modules of the eligible chess pieces ( 104 ) to change their color and switch allegiance thereof from a first state indicating allegiance to original player to a second state indicating allegiance to the opponent player during gameplay, in response to one or more predetermined trigger conditions. 
     
     
         2 . The chess board game apparatus ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the color-changing module is selected from an LED, e-ink display, prismatic display, polarized film assembly, electro-mechanical actuator, thermochromic material, photochromic material, electroluminescent material, ferrofluid display, liquid column display, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The chess board game apparatus ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the piece-tracking and identification system comprises one or more of: an infrared (IR) blaster, optical sensor, a reed switch, magnet system, an NFC tag reader system, or a pressure sensor system. 
     
     
         4 . The chess board game apparatus ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the switching trigger event is selected from one or more of a manual input, a time-based event, a rule-based condition, a probability-based condition, a move-based condition, an artificial intelligence-based determination, a random luck-based event, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The chess board game apparatus ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the manual input for using the switch trigger or the defensive token is provided via a physical button, mouse click, keyboard selection, holographic display, touchscreen interface, voice command, or a connected remote device. 
     
     
         6 . The chess board game apparatus ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit ( 126 ) implements a token-based blocking of the switching event mechanism, wherein each player is allocated a predefined number of tokens at the start of a match to prevent an impending piece switch within a predetermined time window after an indication of the switch. 
     
     
         7 . The chess board game apparatus ( 100 ) of  claim 6 , wherein the defensive or switch avoid tokens are either replenishable or non-replenishable during a match, optionally transferable between matches in a tournament setting, and optionally available in a digital version of the game based on preset rules agreed between both the players. 
     
     
         8 . The chess board game apparatus ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the eligibility and fairness module ( 132 ) permits switching only when the calculated change in win probability for any player does not exceed a predefined threshold agreed upon before gameplay or determined by the rules or fairness engine. 
     
     
         9 . A chess board game system ( 200 ) comprising:
 a game board ( 102 ) having a plurality of squares;   a plurality of chess pieces ( 104 ), each comprising a body ( 106 ) formed of a light-transmissive material, the body ( 106 ) having at least a portion transparent or translucent to permit visual perception of a colour change produced by a colour-changing module, a communication receiver ( 112 ) to receive control signals, and a power source;   a power source to supply power to at least one of the chess pieces ( 104 ) and the game board ( 102 );   a piece-tracking and identification system integrated into the game board ( 102 ) and selected from an infrared (IR) blaster ( 116 ), optical sensor ( 118 ) system, reed switch ( 120 ), magnet system ( 122 ), NFC tag-reader system, pressure sensor ( 124 ) system, or combinations thereof;   a control unit ( 126 ) comprising a microcontroller or processor ( 128 ) operatively associated with a trigger detection module ( 130 ), an eligibility and fairness module ( 132 ), a communication module ( 134 ), and a power management module ( 136 ), the control unit ( 126 ) comprising:
 a user interface module ( 202 ) to set game preferences including switching trigger types, win-probability thresholds, switch event indications and token allocations; 
 a processing module ( 204 ) to execute gameplay logic, track the state of the chess board, and implement switching events; 
 a communication interface ( 206 ) to enable wired or wireless communication with an external device ( 208 ); and 
 a data storage module ( 210 ) to store game configurations, player profiles, gameplay history, and switching event logs, 
   
       wherein the system ( 200 ) is operable in a physical mode with tangible chess pieces ( 104 ) or a digital mode with virtual chess pieces rendered on a display, and wherein the switching of chess pieces' allegiance is initiated, validated, and executed based on the preset game preferences and detection of a switching trigger event. 
     
     
         10 . The chess board game system ( 200 ) of  claim 9 , wherein the processing module ( 204 ) incorporates an artificial intelligence engine to predict move outcomes and determine switching trigger events based on probability analysis. 
     
     
         11 . The chess board game system ( 200 ) of  claim 9 , wherein the user interface module ( 202 ) enables token-based prevention of piece switching, the tokens being limited in number per game and optionally carried forward or purchased in a tournament mode. 
     
     
         12 . The chess board game system ( 200 ) of  claim 9 , wherein the system is operable in a hybrid mode where the physical chess board game apparatus ( 100 ) is synchronised with a digital display for remote or online gameplay. 
     
     
         13 . A method ( 300 ) for controlling a chess board game system ( 100 ) or a chess board game system ( 200 ), the method ( 300 ) comprising:
 providing the game board ( 102 ) and chess pieces ( 104 );   tracking the location and identity of each chess piece ( 104 ) using the piece-tracking and identification system;   monitoring gameplay to detect a switching trigger event;   determining eligible chess pieces ( 104 ) for switching;   generating and transmitting control signals to the communication receivers ( 112 ) of the eligible chess pieces ( 104 );   activating the colour-changing modules of the eligible chess pieces ( 104 ) to alter visible allegiance while retaining their positions; and   maintaining updated gameplay status for subsequent analytics, playback, or remote synchronization;   
       wherein the method ( 300 ) enables dynamic mid-game switching of chess piece allegiance without altering the fundamental rules of chess. 
     
     
         14 . The method ( 300 ) of  claim 13 , wherein the switching trigger event is initiated based on a random number, predefined number of moves, elapsed time, or a specific board situation. 
     
     
         15 . The method ( 300 ) of  claim 13 , wherein win-probability thresholds are calculated or updated dynamically by an artificial intelligence module. 
     
     
         16 . The method ( 300 ) of  claim 13 , wherein the method ( 300 ) is computer-implemented or physical board-based or hybrid. 
     
     
         17 . A control unit ( 500 ) computer compute for a chess board game apparatus ( 100 ) or chess board game system ( 200 ), the control unit ( 500 ) comprising one or more processors ( 502 ) and a memory storing instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors ( 504 ), cause the control unit ( 500 ) to:
 track, by a piece-tracking and identification system ( 506 ) integrated into a game board ( 102 ), a location and identity of each chess piece ( 104 );   monitor gameplay to detect a switching trigger event;   determine chess pieces ( 104 ) eligible for switching;   generate and transmit control signals to communication receivers ( 508 ) of the eligible chess pieces ( 104 ); and   activate colour-changing modules ( 510 ) of the eligible chess pieces ( 104 ) to alter a visible allegiance thereof;   
       wherein execution of the instructions enables dynamic mid-game switching of chess piece allegiance without altering fundamental chess rules. 
     
     
         18 . A standalone chess piece ( 600 ) for a chess board game apparatus ( 100 ) or chess board game system ( 200 ), the chess piece ( 600 ) comprising:
 a body ( 602 ) formed of a light-transmissive material, the body ( 602 ) having at least a portion transparent or translucent so as to permit visual perception of a colour change;   a colour-changing module ( 604 ) disposed within the body ( 602 ) and to produce a visible change of allegiance of the chess piece ( 600 ) during gameplay;   a communication receiver ( 606 ) to receive control signals from an external control unit ( 126 ); and   a power source ( 608 ) to supply electrical power to the colour-changing module ( 604 ) and the communication receiver ( 606 );   conductive contacts at a base portion to receive power from a conductive surface of the game board ( 102 );   wherein the chess piece ( 600 ) is operable independently of a specific game board and adaptable for pairing with any compatible chess board game apparatus ( 100 ) or chess board game system ( 200 ) to enable dynamic allegiance or side switching without altering the fundamental rules of chess based on one or more predetermined trigger conditions.   
     
     
         19 . The chess piece ( 600 ) of  claim 18 , wherein the colour-changing module ( 604 ) produces the visible change of allegiance of the chess piece ( 600 ) during gameplay via one or more of an RGB LED array, an e-ink display, a prismatic display, a polarised film assembly, an electromechanical actuator, a thermochromic material, a photochromic material, an electroluminescent panel, a ferrofluid display, a liquid column display, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The chess piece ( 600 ) of  claim 18 , wherein the chess piece ( 600 ) is adapted to operate with physical, virtual or hybrid representations of a chess board game system ( 200 ).