WO2007034220A1

WO2007034220A1 - Electronic games apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2007034220A1
Application number: PCT/GB2006/003555
Authority: WO
Inventors: Daniel Chaim Kishon
Original assignee: All In 1 Products Limited
Priority date: 2005-09-26
Filing date: 2006-09-25
Publication date: 2007-03-29

Abstract

The present invention provides an electronic game apparatus for a Sudoku game. Manually operable input means (69,70) allow a player to select one or more characters from the set for display in each initially blank cell. The manually operable input means (69,70) allowing selection of a single character for a cell on a definite basis and also the selection of a plurality of characters for a cell on a provisional basis. When a plurality of characters are selected for a cell on a provisional basis then they are displayed one at a time successively in the relevant cell.

Description

ELECTRONIC GAMES APPARATUS

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an electronic apparatus for playing a game and in particular, but not exclusively, to an electronic apparatus for playing Sudoku.

Sudoku is a game which originated in the 1970¹S and became popular in Japan in the 1980 's. The game is now extremely popular around the world and is found in many newspapers, forms the subject of puzzle books and can be played on both handheld electronic apparatus or PC based systems. Sudoku is known under many other names, such as, but not limited to, Nine Numbers, DigitHunt and Number Place. Furthermore Sudoku is generally known as a numbers game using numerical symbols. However, it may also be played using non-numerical symbols such as letters or characters of a different format. Nevertheless, for simplicity the game will be described using the word "number" throughout. Sudoku involves a grid comprising a number of cells.

The grid takes the form of an x by x grid having x rows and x columns and being subdivided into a number of y by z regions, where y multiplied by z equals x. The most common variant of Sudoku is shown in Figure 1 and comprises a 9x9 grid 1 with nine 3x3 regions 2. However, many variations exist from a simple game having a 4x4 grid and four 2x2 regions to, say, a 25x25 grid having twenty five 5x5 regions. There are also grids which have regions which are not square in form, such as a 6x6 grid having 2x3 regions . Figure 2 shows the grid 1 as it looks at the start of a game, where it is initially provided with one or more given numbers 3, which each occupy a respective cell within the grid 1. The remaining cells 4 are initially blank. The goal of the game is to then fill in each of the initially- blank cells 4, with one number in each, so that each column, row and region contains the numbers only once. For example in the most common 9x9 grid, the numbers 1 to 9 should appear only once in each of the nine columns, each of the nine rows and each of the nine 3x3 regions .

When solving a puzzle there are a number of methods used by players known as "scanning", which can be subdivided into "cross-hatching" or "counting" . Cross-hatching involves scanning the rows and columns of the grid to identify which cell in a particular region may contain a certain number by a process of elimination. This process is then repeated for each of the columns and rows. Counting from 1 to 9 (in the case of a 9x9 grid) . Once scanning has been exhausted there is likely to remain a number of cells which are not completed and in this case the player typically uses a technique called "marking up", which is a form of logical analysis. When marking up players mark candidate numbers into the cells which are still blank with a view to making a final selection of the candidate numbers at a later point. Generally there are two popular notations; subscripts and dots. In the subscript notation candidate numbers are written in subscript in the blank cells, see for example the top row of Figure 3. In the dots notation a pattern of dots are placed into the blank cells, for example a dot in the top left hand corner may indicate a 1 as a candidate number and a dot in the bottom right hand corner may indicate that 9 is a candidate number. The most popular way of currently playing Sudoku is using paper and a writing implement, for example a pencil. One reason for this is that playing the game on an electronic handheld apparatus or a PC based system is significantly more difficult and frustrating than playing the game on paper. This is because the time taken to complete a game is significantly longer as none of the devices currently available allow for the player to use the "marking up" technique.

As will be appreciated the scanning method may be employed equally when solving a puzzle on paper with a pencil or when solving a puzzle on an electronic apparatus. However, the "marking up" method cannot be easily implemented using an electronic handheld apparatus. Some such devices only allow a single number to be placed in each cell Others may allow a plurality of numbers to be provisionally included in each cell (with a final selection made later) , but these suffer from either or both of a limit to the number of digits included in each space or a need to make each provisionally selected number so small that it is hard to read.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides electronic game apparatus comprising: a screen displaying a grid having x columns and x rows and x by x cells, said grid being subdivided into a number of y by z regions, where y multiplied by z equals x; manually operable input means for selecting to be displayed in each cell one or more characters from a set of x individual characters; and electronic processing means for controlling the game; wherein at the start of each game the electronic processing means selects characters from the set for display in some but not all of said cells, successful completion of the game occurs when the cells of each row comprise a respective one of each of said x characters; the cells of each column comprise a respective one of each of said x characters; and the cells of each region comprise a respective one of each of said x characters, the manually operable input means allow a player to select one or more characters from the set for display in each initially blank cell, the manually operable input means allowing selection of a single character for a cell on a definite basis and also the selection of a plurality of characters for a cell on a provisional basis; and when a plurality of characters are selected for a cell on a provisional basis then they are displayed one at a time successively in the relevant cell.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows a grid as used in a Sudoku game . Figure 2 shows the grid of Figure 1 with initial given numbers as provided at the start of a game . Figure 3 shows the grid of Figures 1 and 2 with some numbers inserted during playing the game.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 4 shows a hand held electronic device for playing Sudoku according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Figure 4 shows a handheld device 10 embodying the present invention. The device includes a display screen 12 in the form of a liquid crystal display (LCD) . The display screen displays a grid 14, which is depicted as being a 9x9 grid having nine 3x3 regions 16 therein. The device 10 comprises a micro-processor which works in one of two ways. The micro-processor may access a look up table and provide initial given numbers in the grid 14 for a specific one of a discrete number of predetermined games. Alternatively, the micro-processor may calculate the initial given numbers and display them in the grid 14, meaning that the device 10 is capable of displaying a much larger number of games. Which ever processing method is employed the grid 14 displays a number of initial given numbers into some, but not all, of the cells of the first grid 14. The remaining cells are initially left blank. This happens after the device 10 is switched on using a switch 40 and a new game is selected using the 'New Game' selector button 41. The device 10 preferably further comprises a clock 22, which starts when the game is started and runs until the game is solved. The device 10 also preferably has difficulty level selectors 42,43,44, which allow the user to select the level of game, either by selecting a specific level: e.g. easy, medium or difficult.

The device 10 preferably further comprises an error check which either automatically, or when prompted by a user indicates when a move is erroneous. For example, the device 10 may have a light source 24, for example a LED, which lights up when an error is made. Alternatively, or in addition, the device 10 may include a speaker (not shown) which emits a sound when the error is made. Furthermore, the device 10 may include a "check" function selector 45 with an associated indicator 26 which enables the user to selectively check the accuracy of the numbers they have entered at any stage of the game . In one embodiment of the invention the device 10 is operated as follows. The user, using the arrow keys 50,51,52,53 navigates around the cell of the grid 14. Each cell will, display a chosen symbol when selected to indicate its selection. For each originally blank cell the user will select a number by depressing one of the keys 60-68. The user will select the number either on a definite basis using the ' select ' key 69 or on a provisional basis using the 'draft select' key 70. The characters are selected one at a time . When a number is selected using the 'select' key 69 then it appears in the relevant cell and the device operated to prevent the user from selecting any further number to be displayed in the cell (unless the number is deleted using the delete key 71) . When a number is provisionally selected using the

'draft select' key 70 then it appears in the relevant cell, but the user can still select additional numbers for display in the same cell. The user simply selects the relevant cell using the arrow keys 50-53 and then uses a number key 60-68 and the 'draft select' key to select an additional number for the cell . The selected numbers are displayed in turn in the cell, each selected number being displayed for a few seconds before being replaced by another selected number. Up to nine different numbers can be 'draft selected' in each blank cell. The 'draft selected' numbers will be displayed sequentially in a continuous sequence. The 'draft selected' numbers are displayed in a form which differentiates them from numbers which have definately selected. The 'draft selected¹ numbers may be differentiated by flashing or by other means .

The aim of the game (as described above) is to select a single number for each cell so that in each row and column and in each 3x3 sub-grid each number appears only once. As the player progresses through the game to solve the puzzle he/she will 'draft select¹ a plurality of numbers in a plurality of blank cells. A plurality of blank cells may simultaneously each display their 'draft selected' numbers. The player will then decrease the number of 'draft selected¹ numbers in each cell by using the 'draft delete' key 72. By operating the key 72 along with one of the number keys 60-68 or by operating the key 72 when a particular number is displayed then the payer can deselect a number previously 'draft selected' on a provisional basis. In this way the player gradually decreases the number of provisional selections in each cell.

It is through this process of draft selection and deletion that difficult Sudokus become solvable. Without it solving the puzzle would be beyond most players.

When a player is happy that he/she knows the correct number for a particular cell then the select key 69 is used to make a firm selection. When a firm selection has been made for every cell then the apparatus will check the selections made an will (e.g. by an audible sound or by a displayed image on the grid 14) confirm the accuracy of the selection.

The player can play against the clock and be prevented by the apparatus from making any further selections after a certain time period has passed. The check key 45 can be used to check the accuracy of each selected number on a number by number basis or the error light 24 can give an automatic indication of a wrongly selected number (depending on the game play chosen) .

If a touch sensitive screen is used then some or all of the keys could be replaced by icons displayed on the screen 12, whose functions or activated by touching the screen (either by hand or with a stylus) in the relevant area of the screen. The number of buttons used can also be reduced if additional functions are given to pressing more than one button at the same time or holding a button down for a predetermined time, for example more than 2 sees.

It will be understood that in the game of the invention the provisionally selected numbers are not all displayed continuously, but instead successively. This enables up to nine numbers to be displayed in each cell easily and does not lead to a reduction in size of a displayed number which makes it hard to read.

The user may input into the device 10 a set of numbers for a game the user has seen elsewhere. The numbers may be entered using keys 50,51,52,53,69. The game can then be played as described above. The device 10 may calculate the solution, and either display the solution before the user plays the game or check the solution proposed by the user. The device 10 may also be used to provide hints to such a manually input game by checking the accuracy of a selected number .

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. Electronic game apparatus comprising: a screen displaying a grid having x columns and x rows and x by x cells, said grid being subdivided into a number of y by z regions, where y multiplied by z equals x; manually operable input means for selecting to be displayed in each cell one or more characters from a set of x individual characters; and electronic processing means for controlling the game; wherein at the start of each game the electronic processing means selects characters from the set for display in some but not all of said cells, successful completion of the game occurs when the cells of each row comprise a respective one of each of said x characters; the cells of each column comprise a respective one of each of said x characters; and the cells of each region comprise a respective one of each of said x characters, the manually operable input means allow a player to select one or more characters from the set for display in each initially blank cell, the manually operable input means allowing selection of a single character for a cell on a definite basis and also the selection of a plurality of characters for a cell on a provisional basis; and when a plurality of characters are selected for a cell on a provisional basis then they are displayed one at a time successively in the relevant cell.

2. Electronic game apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the manually operable input means allows the player to deselect a character previously provisionally selected in a cell, the deselected character no longer being displayed in the cell subsequent to de-selection.

3. Electronic game apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the manually operable input means allows the user to definitely select for display in a cell a character previously selected on a provisional basis, the definitely selected number being subsequent displayed alone in the relevant cell .

4. Electronic game apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the manually operable input means allows a player to select to display in a chosen cell every one of the characters of the set .

5. Electronic game apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the apparatus has clock means which displays the duration of the game.

6. Electronic game apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein a game duration can be set and the electronic processing means can prevent use in a particular game of the input means to select further characters when the clock means records that the set game duration has been reached.

7. Electronic game apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the manually operable input means allows the player to operate a check function in which the electronic processing means verifies for a particular cell whether the character selected for that cell has been correctly selected.

8. Electronic game apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the electronic processing means checks the accuracy of each selected character on selection by the player on a definite basis, the electronic processing mean operating indicator means whenever an incorrect selection is determined.

9. Electronic game apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the electronic processing means is programmed to set puzzles of varying degrees of difficulty and the manually operable input means allows the use to select between the levels of difficulty.

10. Electronic game apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein characters selected for a cell on a provisional basis are displayed in a form distinguishable from a character selected for a cell on a definite basis.

11. Electronic game apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein characters selected for a cell on a provisional basis are displayed as flashing.

12. Electronic game apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the manually operable input means allows the player to enter characters to form a game.