Card game system and playing card for a card game system

Abstract

Card game system (100) comprising a first number of physical playing cards (10) and a first number of virtual playing cards (11) that can be stored on a storage medium and at least one reading device (13), wherein each physical playing card (10) has a transponder (15) that can be read by the reading device (13), wherein the reading device (13) is configured to assign a virtual playing card (11) to a physical playing card (10) after reading the transponder (15).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a card game system comprising a first number of physical playing cards and a first number of virtual playing cards storable on a storage medium.

[0002] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a playing card for a playing card system.

[0003] Card game systems, especially collectible card game systems, are available in a wide variety of themes and formats. Collectible card game systems can be used as an advertising platform and bring together a large number of players.

[0004] From US 2022 / 0327303 A1, a greeting card is known with a scannable code having a unique identifier representing a unique location in a computer network, the unique location comprising a first response with a first set of data. Description of the invention: task, solution, advantages

[0005] The present invention is based on the object of providing a card game system which comprises physical and virtual playing cards, whereby players can compete against each other in the game using both the physical cards and the virtual cards.

[0006] To achieve the object underlying the invention, a card game system comprising a first number of physical playing cards and a first number of virtual playing cards storable on a storage medium and at least one reading device is proposed, wherein each physical playing card has a transponder readable by the reading device, wherein the reading device is configured to assign a virtual playing card to a physical playing card after reading the transponder.

[0007] The card game system thus includes both physical playing cards and virtual playing cards. It is essential that each physical playing card has a transponder that can be read by the card game system's reader. The reader is configured to read the transponder and, after reading the transponder, assign a virtual playing card to a physical playing card. The virtual playing card can, in particular, be a digital twin of the physical playing card. Due to the assignment of virtual playing cards to physical playing cards, the card game system can be played using both physical and virtual playing cards.

[0008] The virtual playing cards are files that can be saved on a storage medium.

[0009] To match the virtual playing cards to the physical playing cards, the virtual playing cards can already be stored on a storage medium of the reader, such as a smartphone. The matching can then take place without an active internet connection. It is also possible for virtual playing cards to be downloaded from the internet or an external server for matching to the physical playing cards, triggered by reading the transponder.

[0010] Preferably, the physical playing cards are printed with information.

[0011] The information includes details necessary for playing the card game system. Furthermore, the information may also include information on the frequency or rarity of the physical and / or virtual playing cards in the card game system.

[0012] It can be further advantageous to provide that data is assigned to the virtual playing cards, wherein the data preferably corresponds to the information of the assigned physical playing cards.

[0013] Since the data of the virtual playing cards corresponds to the information of the physical playing cards, the virtual playing cards represent digital twins of the physical playing cards.

[0014] With further advantage, it can be provided that the information and / or data relate to the music industry, wherein the physical playing cards and the virtual playing cards comprise song cards, label cards and tactic cards.

[0015] The card game system is therefore particularly suitable for players who are interested in music or the music industry.

[0016] The song cards, label cards, and tactic cards are used during the game with the card game system according to the rules of the card game system.

[0017] Event cards can also be provided. These event cards can be physical playing cards and thus used during gameplay. However, it is preferred that the event cards are not used during gameplay with the card game system, nor are they used in gameplay, but rather for promotional purposes. By reading the event card transponders using the reader, information about companies, products, discounts, or competitions can be retrieved.

[0018] The card game system therefore preferably comprises at least two, preferably several, reading devices.

[0019] This allows several players to compete against each other using virtual playing cards.

[0020] Preferably, an executable software application (app) is stored on the reading device.

[0021] It can further be provided that the executable software application is configured to transmit the data of at least two virtual playing cards between at least two reading devices, wherein the executable software application is preferably configured to determine at least one virtual playing card using an evaluation system. By transmitting the data of at least two virtual playing cards between at least two reading devices, the card game system can be played virtually. The data can be transmitted via any suitable data connection, for example, a mobile network, the internet, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or NFC.

[0022] It can be provided that each player selects one or more of their virtual playing cards for making a turn and lets them compete against each other using the software application. The software application then determines one or more playing cards based on the rating system. The determined playing cards can be those playing cards that are classified as higher value based on the rating system. A turn can comprise several phases in which the players each select, i.e. play, one or more playing cards. In each phase or only at the end of the turn, the software application can determine at least one virtual playing card based on the rating system.

[0023] It can be stipulated that at the end of each phase, or at the end of a turn, possibly comprising several phases, or only at the end of a game comprising several turns, preferably by the software application, a winner of the phase, turn, or game is determined. If, for example, a winner of the turn is only determined at the end of the turn, this means that a winner of the respective phase does not necessarily have to be determined in the phases of the turn, but that the winner of the turn is determined based on all the cards played in the phases. If a winner of the phase is already determined for each phase, the game mechanics can be similar to the well-known quartet game.

[0024] In particular, the reader(s) can interact with players via the executable software application, process all information relevant to the game, especially the virtual playing cards, and indicate or execute moves. The reader can act as a neutral and impartial referee during the game. Preferably, the software application selects a playing card based on a scoring system. In the game context, the selected playing card can be the card that wins a move.

[0025] Preferably, the executable software application is configured to transmit the data of the virtual game card associated with the physical game card between the at least two reading devices after at least one transponder of a physical game card has been read.

[0026] Thus, the transmission of data from at least two virtual playing cards between the at least two reading devices can be initiated by reading the transponder of a physical playing card. A player can hold a physical playing card to the reading device, and the moves are executed by transmitting the virtual playing cards, in particular the digital twins. However, it is also possible for the transmission of data from the virtual playing cards to be initiated by user input in the software application, for example, by touching a button displayed on a screen of the reading device. In this case, playing the card game system is also possible without the physical playing cards.

[0027] Preferably, the card game system can be played, in particular after assigning the virtual playing cards to the physical playing cards, only using the physical playing cards (offline mode), or only using the virtual playing cards (online mode), or using the physical playing cards and the virtual playing cards (hybrid mode).

[0028] Preferably, the first number of physical playing cards is equal to the first number of virtual playing cards, wherein the first number is predetermined.

[0029] The initial number of physical playing cards thus corresponds exactly to the initial number of virtual playing cards. This ensures that each physical playing card corresponds to exactly one virtual playing card, and vice versa. The initial number is predetermined. In other words, a publisher of the card game system, for example, can limit the number of physical playing cards and the number of virtual playing cards.

[0030] In principle, it is also possible for the number of virtual playing cards to be greater than the number of physical playing cards. In this case, there is a virtual playing card associated with each physical playing card, but not every virtual playing card has a physical playing card associated with it.

[0031] Furthermore, a second number of physical playing cards and a second number of virtual playing cards storable on a storage medium can be provided, wherein the second number of physical playing cards is equal to the second number of virtual playing cards, wherein the second number is variable.

[0032] Thus, in addition to the first number of physical playing cards and the first number of virtual playing cards, which are limited in quantity, additional physical playing cards and virtual playing cards can be provided. The quantity of the second number of physical and virtual playing cards is variable and can change dynamically. In particular, the quantity of the second number of physical playing cards and virtual playing cards can be regularly adjusted by the publisher of the card game system.

[0033] It is preferably provided that the transponder is an RFID transponder, in particular an NFC transponder.

[0034] This makes it possible to read the transponder of the physical game cards by simply holding the physical game card up to the reader.

[0035] Furthermore, it can be provided that non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are assigned to the virtual playing cards, or that the virtual playing cards are non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

[0036] Assigning non-fungible tokens to the virtual playing cards ensures that the virtual playing cards cannot be copied or tampered with. Furthermore, assigning the virtual playing cards to NFTs allows for a unique assignment of the virtual playing cards to a player. Furthermore, assigning NFTs to the virtual playing cards allows for the value of the virtual playing cards to be determined, allowing virtual playing cards to be traded between players on a transfer market.

[0037] The non-fungible tokens can be assigned to the virtual playing cards, or the virtual playing cards can be the non-fungible tokens themselves. Thus, the NFT can either contain a reference, in particular a URL, to the virtual playing card. Furthermore, the virtual playing card as a whole, including the data of the virtual playing card, can also represent the NFT.

[0038] Preferably, the non-fungible tokens are stored in a blockchain.

[0039] Furthermore, it can be provided that the data is stored in the blockchain. In this case, the entire virtual game card, including the associated data, is stored in the blockchain, and the virtual game card is the NFT.

[0040] It can be further advantageously provided that the data is stored on a storage medium, preferably a server or the reading device.

[0041] Preferably, the data for all virtual game cards can already be present on the reader, i.e., in the software application of the reader. Thus, downloading the virtual game cards from an external source is not necessary. In this embodiment, after the transponder has been read, the corresponding virtual game card already stored on the reader is activated and assigned to the physical game card.

[0042] It is preferably provided that the reading device is configured to play back a media file, in particular an audio file, after reading the transponder of a physical game card.

[0043] The media file can, in particular, be an audio file. This is particularly advantageous if the information on the playing cards relates to the music industry. For example, the transponder of a song card can be read by the reader, and an audio file of the song can be output from the reader.

[0044] Preferably, the media file is retrieved from a streaming service.

[0045] It is further advantageous that the reading device is a mobile data processing device, in particular a smartphone, a tablet or a smartwatch.

[0046] It can be further advantageously provided that the card game system comprises a computing device, in particular a server, wherein the computing device is configured to manage a plurality of player accounts.

[0047] It is particularly preferred that the computing device be a server, especially an external one. A plurality of player accounts are managed on the server. Players who have the software application stored on their reading device, especially a smartphone, can set up a player account on the server. Virtual playing cards can be traded between players via the game account.

[0048] Thus, it is particularly preferably provided that the software application and / or the computing device is configured to transfer the virtual game cards, in particular the non-fungible tokens, between reading devices and / or player accounts.

[0049] A further solution to the problem underlying the invention consists in providing a playing card, in particular a physical playing card, for a card game system as described above.

[0050] The playing card is, in particular, a physical playing card. The playing card can be designed according to one of the physical playing cards of the card game system described above. The physical playing card is particularly preferably printed with information. Further preferably, the physical playing card comprises a transponder that can be read with a reader. The transponder is preferably an RFID transponder, in particular an NFC transponder.

[0051] A further solution to the problem underlying the invention consists in a software application suitable for a card game system described above.

[0052] A further solution to the problem underlying the invention consists in a method for carrying out a card game with a card game system as described above, comprising the steps of reading the transponder of at least one of the physical playing cards by means of the reading device and assigning one of the virtual playing cards to the at least one physical playing card by means of the reading device.

[0053] All features, properties or functions of the card game system described above can also be transferred to the process in an analogous manner.

[0054] It is therefore preferably provided that an executable software application is stored on the reading device, wherein the software application assigns the virtual game card to the physical game card after reading the transponder.

[0055] The physical playing cards can be printed with information. The virtual playing cards can be assigned data, with the data corresponding to the information on the associated physical playing cards.

[0056] In addition, it can be provided that the software application transmits the data of at least two virtual playing cards between at least two reading devices, and that the executable software application determines at least one virtual playing card using a rating system. Short description of the characters

[0057] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the attached figure. Fig. 1 shows a card game system. Detailed description of the characters

[0058] Fig.1 shows a card game system 100. The card game system 100 comprises a first number of physical playing cards 10 and a first number of virtual playing cards 11. The virtual playing cards 11 are stored in a software application 14 stored on reading devices 13 designed as smartphones 12.

[0059] Each of the physical playing cards 10 comprises a transponder 15 which can be read by the reading devices and is designed as an NFC transponder 16.

[0060] The transponders 15 of the physical playing cards 10 can be read by means of the reading devices 13 when the physical playing cards 10 are held up to the reading device 13. If a transponder 15 of a physical playing card 10 is read by a reading device 13, the software application 14 links the virtual playing card 11 with the corresponding physical playing card 10. Each virtual playing card 11 is also assigned a non-fungible token 17 (NFT), with the NFT 17 being stored in a blockchain 18. This allows the owner of each virtual playing card 11 to be determined beyond doubt. In addition, unauthorized copies or duplicates of virtual playing cards 11 can be prevented. Furthermore, the assignment of the NFT 17 to the virtual playing card 11 enables trading of the virtual playing cards 11 between players.

[0061] The physical playing cards 10 are printed with information 19, wherein the information 19 relates to the music industry. The virtual playing cards 11 contain data 20, wherein the data corresponds to the information 19 of the associated physical playing cards 10. If a transponder 15 of a physical playing card 10 is read, an audio file 21 is also played back by the respective reader 13. The audio file 21 is retrieved from a streaming service 22. The card game system 100 further comprises an external server 23 on which player accounts 26 are managed. The server 23 can further support the trading of the virtual playing cards 11 and / or the physical playing cards 10 between players.

[0062] To play the card game system 100, players can read the transponder 15 of a physical card 10, whereupon the software application 14 transmits the data 20 of the associated virtual card 11 between the players' readers 13. The software application 14 stored on the readers 13 then interacts with the players, processes all game-relevant data 20 of the virtual playing cards 11, and executes moves. The readers 13 thus act as neutral and impartial referees during the game. Alternatively or additionally, the transmission of the data 20 between the readers 13 can also be initiated by a user input in the software application 14, for example, by touching a button 25 displayed on a screen 24 of the readers 13. List of reference symbols 100 card game system 10 Physical Game Cards 11 Virtual game card 12 smartphones 13 Reader 14 Software application 15 transponders 16 NFC transponders 17 NFT 18 Blockchain 19 Information 20 data 21 audio files 22 Streaming service 23 External Server 24 screen 25 button 26 player accounts QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] US 2022 / 0327303 A1

[0004]

Claims

[1] Card game system (100) comprising a first number of physical playing cards (10) and a first number of virtual playing cards (11) storable on a storage medium and at least one reading device (13), wherein each physical playing card (10) has a transponder (15) readable by the reading device (13), wherein the reading device (13) is configured to assign a virtual playing card (11) to a physical playing card (10) after reading the transponder (15). [2] Card game system (100) according to claim 1, characterized by that the physical playing cards (10) are printed with information (19). [3] Card game system (100) according to claim 2, characterized by that data (20) are assigned to the virtual playing cards (11), wherein the data (20) preferably correspond to the information (19) of the assigned physical playing cards (10). [4] Card game system (100) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized bythat the information (19) and / or the data (20) relate to the music industry, wherein the physical playing cards (10) and the virtual playing cards (11) comprise song cards, label cards and tactic cards. [5] Card game system (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that an executable software application (14) is stored on the reading device (13), wherein the software application (14) is set up to assign a virtual game card (11) to a physical game card (10) after reading the transponder (15). [6] Card game system (100) according to claim 5, characterized by in that the executable software application (14) is configured to transmit the data (20) of at least two virtual playing cards (11) between at least two reading devices (13), wherein the executable software application (14) is preferably configured to determine at least one virtual playing card (11) using an evaluation system. [7] Card game system (100) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized by that the executable software application (14) is configured, after at least one transponder (15) of a physical game card (10) has been read, to transmit the data (20) of the virtual game card (11) associated with the physical game card (10) between the at least two reading devices (13). [8] Card game system (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the first number of physical playing cards (10) is equal to the first number of virtual playing cards (11), wherein the first number is predetermined. [9] Card game system (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized byin that a second number of physical playing cards (10) and a second number of virtual playing cards (11) storable on a storage medium are provided, wherein the second number of physical playing cards (10) is equal to the second number of virtual playing cards (11), wherein the second number is variable. [10] Card game system (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the transponder (15) is an RFID transponder, in particular an NFC transponder (16). [11] Card game system (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the virtual playing cards (11) are assigned non-fungible tokens (17) (NFT), or that the virtual playing cards (11) are non-fungible tokens (17) (NFT). [12] Card game system (100) according to claim 11, characterized by that the non-fungible tokens (17) are stored in a blockchain (18). [13] Card game system (100) according to claim 12, characterized bythat the data (20) are stored in the blockchain (18). [14] Card game system (100) according to one of claims 3 to 13, characterized by that the data (20) are stored on a storage medium, preferably a server (23) or the reading device (13). [15] Card game system (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the reading device (13) is configured to play back a media file, in particular an audio file (21), after reading the transponder (15) of a physical game card (10). [16] Card game system (100) according to claim 15, characterized by that the media file is retrieved from a streaming service (21). [17] Card game system (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the reading device (13) is a mobile data processing device, in particular a smartphone (12), a tablet or a smartwatch. [18] Card game system (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the card game system (100) comprises a computing device, in particular a server (23), wherein the computing device is configured to manage a plurality of player accounts (26). [19] Card game system (100) according to one of claims 5 to 18, characterized by that the software application (14) and / or the computing device is configured to transfer the virtual game cards (11), in particular the non-fungible tokens (17), between reading devices (13) and / or player accounts (26). [20] Playing card (10, 11), in particular physical playing card (10), for a card game system (100) according to one of the preceding claims. [21] Software application (14) for a card game system (100) according to one of claims 1 to 19.

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