Methods, systems and computer program products for implementing an input control in a computing device

Description

Methods, Systems and Computer Program Products for Implementing an Input Control in a Computing DeviceField of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to the domain of computer software implementation and execution, and more particularly to methods, systems and computer program products for implementing an input control in a device configured for computer software execution and / or computer gaming. Even more particularly, the input control may be configured to enable a player to trigger selection of an input value out of a finite set of possible inputs values that form the basis of state change in a computer software application.

[0002] Computing device based gaming has become increasingly popular with the availability of affordable computing devices - and even more so with the rapid increase in accessibility of mobile communication devices such as smartphones, which are capable of providing a convenient and sophisticated gaming experience.

[0003] Within the domain of computing device based gaming, a popular sub-category of games is strategy based games that (in addition to player strategy) rely on an element of randomness or chance. Dice based games are a well-known example of this sub-category, where players roll the dice and the value of the dice rolled is used as an input to effect a state change in the game. A well-known example is the computer implemented version of the board game “Ludo”, where the value of dice rolled by a player determines the number of squares / positions across which the player may advance her / his tokens. There are however several other computer implemented games and / or strategy games where a roll of dice determines outcomes or state changes in the game.

[0004] Conventional strategies for implementing dice based gaming involve implementing an input control that enables a player to trigger a roll of dice through a computing device or a computing device peripheral (such as a mouse, keyboard, or touchscreen) - and in response to the trigger event, a randomizer function (i.e. a systemimplemented function that generates a random value) is used to determine the face value of the rolled dice. In certain implementations, the face value of the rolled dice can be partially or wholly determined by attributes of the player’s operation of the input control that triggers the roll of dice - for example, duration between a start click event and a stop click event implemented through a mouse, duration between a start keypress event and a stop keypress event implemented through a keyboard, or duration between a start touchpress event and a stop touchpress event implemented through a touchscreen. However, even in such cases, the eventual face value of the rolled dice is influenced to a significant extent by the randomizer function.

[0005] It has however been found that implementation of input controls that rely on a randomizer function, or other functions that are not wholly controllable by a player leads to a less satisfactory gaming experience, and additionally inhibits and / or dilutes the strategy element in the overall gaming experience.

[0006] There is accordingly a need for an input control in a device configured for computer software execution, wherein the input control enables a player to effect determination of an input value out of a finite set of inputs value that form the basis of state change in a computer game, such as a dice based game - thereby reducing or eliminating the element of chance and increasing the element of strategy.Summary

[0007] The invention provides methods, systems and computer program products for implementing an input control in a computing device or in a device configured for computer gaming. The input control may be configured to enable a user gameplayer to effect selection of an input value out of a finite set of inputs value that form the basis of state change in a software application or in a computer game, such as a strategy game. In a specific embodiment, the input control enables a gameplayer to select a face value for a die or dice, wherein the selected face value of the die or dice forms the basis of state change or an outcome in a computer game, or in a strategy based computer game, or in a computer game that relies on a roll of dice or selection of a die face / dice face for determining a game outcome or a change in game state, or for example, in a computer implemented version of “Ludo” or the “Ludo Board Game”, or Snakes and Ladders or anyother game that relies on a roll of dice or selection of a die face / dice face for determining a game outcome or a change in game state. In other embodiments, the input control enables a user to control a selection and / or input of a value or a data state to a software application.

[0008] The invention provides a method for implementing an input control in a computing device. The method comprises implementing at a processor, the steps of (i) rendering on a display screen, a display interface generated by an instance of a software application that is being executed by the processor, wherein the rendered display interface includes an input control that displays a plurality of selectable data elements, and wherein said input control is configured to enable user selection of a data element from among the plurality of displayed selectable data elements, for input to the instance of the software application, and (ii) responsive to receiving, through a hardware device integrated within or coupled with the computing device, a user selection of a selected data element from among the plurality of displayed selectable data elements (a) implementing a state change in the instance of the software application based on the selected data element, and (b) removing the selected data element from the plurality of displayed selectable data elements within the input control.

[0009] In an embodiment of the method, removal of the selected data element from the plurality of displayed selectable data elements within the input control comprises substituting the selected data element within said plurality of displayed selectable data elements with a substitute selectable data element.

[0010] In another embodiment of the method, each selectable data element within the plurality of displayed selectable data elements is displayed and selectable within the input control for a defined time duration.

[0011] In a further embodiment of the method, , upon expiry of the defined time duration associated with a selectable data element that is displayed within the input control, said selectable data element is substituted within the input control with another selectable data element.

[0012] In a particular embodiment of the method, the computing device varies or reduces said time duration after elapse of a predefined time period from detection of a defined event associated with the instance of a software application that is being executed by the processor.

[0013] In a method embodiment, the input control displays the plurality of selectable data elements, in any of a horizontal band configuration, a vertical band configuration, a circular band configuration, a semi-circular band configuration, or a geometrically shaped band configuration.

[0014] In another method embodiment, the software application is a computer game software application that involves user input to select any of die face from among a plurality of die faces, an icon from among a plurality of icons, a playing card from among a plurality of playing cards, or a token from among a plurality of tokens, for the purposes of selecting an input value to effect a state change in the computer game software application.

[0015] In a specific method embodiment, substitution of selectable data elements displayed within the input control upon expiry of defined time durations associated with each of said selectable data elements is achieved by implementing the input control as a scrolling band of selectable data elements, wherein selectable elements for which the corresponding defined time duration has expired exit the input control from one side of the scrolling band and replacement selectable data elements enter the input control from an opposite side of the band.

[0016] In a further embodiment of the method, upon substitution of a selectable data element within the input control with a replacement selectable data element, the position of one or more selectable data elements that are displayed within the input control and for which the corresponding defined time duration has not expired, is shuffled or changed within the display screen.

[0017] The invention also provides a system for implementing an input control in a computing device, the system comprising a processor, memory and display screen - wherein the processor is configured to implement the steps of (i) rendering on a displayscreen, a display interface generated by an instance of a software application that is being executed by the processor, wherein the rendered display interface includes an input control that displays a plurality of selectable data elements, and wherein said input control is configured to enable user selection of a data element from among the plurality of displayed selectable data elements, for input to the instance of the software application, and (ii) responsive to receiving, through a hardware device integrated within or coupled with the computing device, a user selection of a selected data element from among the plurality of displayed selectable data elements (a) implementing a state change in the instance of the software application based on the selected data element, and (b) removing the selected data element from the plurality of displayed selectable data elements within the input control.

[0018] In an embodiment of the system, the processor is configured such that removal of the selected data element from the plurality of displayed selectable data elements within the input control comprises substituting the selected data element within said plurality of displayed selectable data elements with a substitute selectable data element.

[0019] In another embodiment of the system, the processor is configured such that each selectable data element within the plurality of displayed selectable data elements is displayed and selectable within the input control for a defined time duration.

[0020] In a further embodiment of the system , the processor is configured such that upon expiry of the defined time duration associated with a selectable data element that is displayed within the input control, said selectable data element is substituted within the input control with another selectable data element.

[0021] In another embodiment of the system, the processor is configured to vary or reduce said time duration after elapse of a predefined time period from detection of a defined event associated with the instance of a software application that is being executed by the processor.

[0022] In a system embodiment, the processor is configured such that the input control displays the plurality of selectable data elements, in any of a horizontal bandconfiguration, a vertical band configuration, a circular band configuration, a semi-circular band configuration, or a geometrically shaped band configuration.

[0023] In another system embodiment, the software application is a computer game software application that involves user input to select any of die face from among a plurality of die faces, an icon from among a plurality of icons, a playing card from among a plurality of playing cards, or a token from among a plurality of tokens, for the purposes of selecting an input value to effect a state change in the computer game software application.

[0024] In yet another system embodiment the processor is configured such that substitution of selectable data elements displayed within the input control upon expiry of defined time durations associated with each of said selectable data elements is achieved by implementing the input control as a scrolling band of selectable data elements, wherein selectable elements for which the corresponding defined time duration has expired exit the input control from one side of the scrolling band and replacement selectable data elements enter the input control from an opposite side of the band.

[0025] In an additional system embodiment, the processor is configured such that upon substitution of a selectable data element within the input control with a replacement selectable data element, the position of one or more selectable data elements that are displayed within the input control and for which the corresponding defined time duration has not expired, is shuffled or changed within the display screen.

[0026] The invention also provides a computer program product for implementing an input control in a computing device. The computer program product comprising a non- transitory computer readable medium having a computer readable program code embodied therein, wherein the computer readable program code comprises instructions for performing at, at least one processor, the steps of (i) rendering on a display screen, a display interface generated by an instance of a software application that is being executed by the processor, wherein the rendered display interface includes an input control that displays a plurality of selectable data elements, and wherein said input control isconfigured to enable user selection of a data element from among the plurality of displayed selectable data elements, for input to the instance of the software application, and (ii) responsive to receiving, through a hardware device integrated within or coupled with the computing device, a user selection of a selected data element from among the plurality of displayed selectable data elements (a) implementing a state change in the instance of the software application based on the selected data element, and (b) removing the selected data element from the plurality of displayed selectable data elements within the input control.

[0027] Figure 1 illustrates a computing device configured to implement a dice based computer game.

[0028] Figures 2 to 4 illustrate display states of a display interface rendered by a computing device that has been configured according to the teachings of the present invention for implementing a dice based computer game.

[0029] Figure 5 illustrates a method for implementing an input control in a computing device, in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

[0030] Figure 6 illustrates an exemplary system for implementing the present invention.

[0031] Figure 1 illustrates a prior art computing device 100 of a type that has conventionally been used to implement a dice based computer game. The computing device 100 illustrated in Figure 1 is a touchscreen based smartphone. However it would be understood that similar solutions have been implemented at other computing devices having a processor, memory, display and one or more input peripherals.

[0032] As shown in Figure 1, computing device 100 comprises a display 102, which is used to render a display interface 104 associated with a game, and to render one or moreinput controls 106 that enable a game player to execute game play, change a game state, provide inputs to the game, and / or interact with the game.

[0033] In the illustration of Figure 1, the game implemented at computing device 102 is a computer version of the Ludo board game - and display interface 104 is therefore displaying the Ludo game board. Further in the illustration of Figure 1, input control 106 comprises a dice control that can be triggered by a gameplayer to initiate a dice roll - for example by a mouse click event, keypress event, or touchpress event triggered with respect to input control 106.

[0034] Figures 2 to 4 illustrate a display 202 of a computing device that has been configured in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, for rendering and controlling a display interface 204 associated with a software application, and one or more input controls 106 that enable a user to control a selection and / or input of a value or a data element to the software application. In one non-limiting embodiment of the invention, the software application is a gaming software application, and the input control(s) 106 are configured to enable a gameplayer to execute game play, change a game state, provide inputs to the game, and / or interact with the game.

[0035] In the illustration of Figures 2 to 4, the display interface 204 rendered on display 202 is a display interface for a computer version of the Ludo board game. Display interface 204 is therefore displaying the Ludo game board. It would however be understood that the teachings of the present invention are equally implementable for any software application or any computer game which involves a user or player effecting determination of an input value out of a finite set of inputs value that form the basis of state change in the software application / computer game.

[0036] In the illustration of Figures 2 to 4, the display interface 204 includes an input control 208 comprising a band that that is rendered across display 202. It would be understood that while the boundaries of the band are shown as being visible, in certain embodiments, the band may simply comprise a defined region within display 202 and may not have a perceivable border or boundary.

[0037] During gameplay input control 208 displays one or more selectable inputs out of a finite set of possible inputs that can be used by the user or gameplayer to trigger a state change in the software application or computer game that is being executed on the computing device. As illustrated in Figures 2 to 4, in specific embodiments of the invention, the present invention may be implemented for any computer game software that involves a die or dice, wherein each of the plurality of selectable inputs displayed within input control 208 comprises a discrete face of the die or dice.

[0038] Further the display interface 204 is configured to enable a user or gameplayer to select (through the computing device or through a computing device peripheral such as a mouse, keyboard, or touchscreen) one of the displayed selectable inputs - and the input selected by the user or gameplayer will thereafter be used to implement a state change in the software application or the computer game software that is being executed on the computing device. Thus for example, in the display interface of Figure 2, input control 208 displays a dice face having the value “1” (210a), a dice face having the value “6” (210b), a dice face having the value “2” (210c) and a dice face having the value “4” (210d) - and the user or gameplayer may (for example during her / his turn to move according to the rules of a computer game implemented by the software application) select any one of the dice faces displayed within input control 208. While Figure 2 shows dice faces as the selectable inputs displayed by input control 208, in other embodiments, said input control can display any other set of selectable input states or input values for selection by a user / gameplayer (for example a series of numbers, a set of icons, or a set of playing cards, or a set of tokens). The selected input value (for example, the selected dice face) is passed as an input to the software application being implemented within the computing device, and is used as the basis of a state change in the software application.

[0039] So for example, if the software application is a computer game software application configured to implement the board game Ludo and the gameplayer selects the dice face having the value “6” (210b), the computer game receives “6” as the value of the dice associated with the gameplayer’s move, and the gameplayer is permitted to advance his token(s) six squares / positions ahead on the board, and / or is permitted make any other move that is permitted to a gameplayer who rolls a “6” on the dice, according to the rules of the game.

[0040] In a particular embodiment, input control 208 is configured such that each of the displayed selectable inputs (210a to 210f) is displayed for a defined amount of time within input control 208, whereafter it is substituted within input control 208 with another selectable input (210a to 210f).

[0041] Thus, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, after expiry of a defined amount of time associated with the dice face 210a having a value “1”, said dice face 201a is removed from input control 208 and is replaced with the dice face 210e having a value “5” - while the remaining dice faces (210b to 210d) remain displayed within input control 208.

[0042] Thereafter, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, after expiry of a defined amount of time associated with the dice face 210b having a value “6”, said dice face is removed from input control 208 and is replaced with the dice face 210f having a value “3” - while the remaining dice faces (210c to 210e) remain displayed within input control 208.

[0043] In one embodiment, the expiry and replacement of dice faces (or other selectable inputs) within input control 208 may be implemented as a scrolling band of displayed dice faces (or other selectable inputs), wherein the expiring dice faces (or expiring selectable inputs) exit the input control 208 from one side of the band, while the replacement dice faces (or replacement selectable inputs) enter the input control 208 from an opposite side of the band. In other embodiments, each replacement may involve the replacement dice face (or replacement selectable input(s)) being substituted in the same position as the expiring dice face (or expiring selectable input). In other embodiments, in addition to removing an expiring dice face (or expiring selectable input) and adding a replacement dice face (or replacement selectable input(s)) within input control 208, each instance of replacement may involve also refreshing or changing or shuffling the position of one or more of the dice faces (or selectable inputs) that have not expired yet, within input control 208.

[0044] In the event a user or gameplayer selects one of the selectable inputs / dice faces displayed within input control 208 (for example through a mouse click event, a keypress event or a touchpress event), the selected input / selected dice face is used as an input to change the state of the software application / computer game software. Further, incertain embodiments, subsequent to selection and use as an input, the selected input / selected dice face is (i) removed from the selectable inputs that are displayed by input control 208, and / or (ii) is substituted within a set of selectable inputs that are displayed by input control 208 with another selectable input (210a to 210f).

[0045] The computing device may be configured to select, vary or reduce, during the defined amount of time for which each selectable input / dice face is displayed and selectable within input control 208, before it is removed (hereinafter, the “time to expiry”). As the duration of the time to expiry reduces, the time available for the user / gameplayer to select an optimal input reduces - thereby increasing the strategic difficulty for the user / gameplayer. In an embodiment of the invention, the duration of the defined time to expiry is varied or reduced after (i) elapse of a defined time period from initiation of the instance of the software application, or (ii) after elapse of a defined time period from initiation of a new game session within an instance of a computer game software application, or (hi) after elapse of a defined time period from detection of a predefined event associated with the instance of the software application that is being executed.

[0046] While the embodiments of the invention illustrated in Figures 2 to 4 illustrate the input control 208 as a horizontal band, it would be understood that any other configuration is also possible, including by way of non-limiting examples, a vertical band, a circular band, a semi-circular band, a band having any other geometric or irregular configuration, a collection of discrete positions on display 202 where each selectable input / dice face may be discretely displayed, and / or randomly selected display regions on the display, and / or any other configuration that would be apparent to the skilled person.

[0047] In an embodiment of the invention, the software application implemented at the computing device is a computer gaming software application configured for implementing a game where the gameplayer has a finite number of available instances, moves or turns to select selectable inputs / dice faces displayed within input control 208 (i.e. a defined finite number of turns to play) within each instantiated game or each instantiated game session. The computing device is configured to control display 202 to display the number of available instances or turns associated with each gameplayer. Eachtime a gameplayer completes a turn / move / selection of a selectable input / dice face displayed within input control 208, the number of remaining available instances or turns is decremented by 1 - and responsive to the decrement, display 202 (or a portion thereof) is refreshed to show the decremented number of remaining available instances or turns. Once the defined finite number of instances or turns to select selectable inputs / dice faces displayed within input control 208 has been reduced to zero, the game or game session is ended.

[0048] In a particular embodiment, each user or gameplayer is assigned a defined time period within which a turn / move / selection of a selectable input / dice face displayed within input control 208 must be completed and the computing device is configured to control display 202 so as to render a timer on display 202, showing the time (or remaining amount of time) available for competing the user’s or gameplayer’s current turn / move / selection of a selectable input / dice face displayed within input control 208. In the event a user or gameplayer does not complete a turn / move / selection of a selectable input / dice face within the defined time period available for that turn / move / selection, the number of remaining available instances or turns available to that user or gameplayer is decremented by 1 - and responsive to the decrement, display 202 (or a portion thereof) is refreshed to display the decremented number of remaining available instances or turns. Thereafter, the next instance of turn available to the user or gameplayer to complete a turn / move / selection of a selectable input / dice face commences.

[0049] In all embodiments of the invention where measurement of time, measurement of elapse of time, or display of time or a timer is involved, the computing device may be configured to measure or display units of time based on signal(s) received from a real time clock (RTC) within or coupled with the computing device.

[0050] Figure 5 illustrates a method for implementing an input control in a computing device, in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

[0051] Step 502 comprises rendering on a display screen, a display interface generated by an instance of a software application that is being executed by the processor, wherein the rendered display interface includes an input control that displays a plurality ofselectable data elements, and wherein said input control is configured to enable user selection of a data element from among the plurality of displayed selectable data elements, for input to the instance of the software application.

[0052] Step 504 comprises receiving, through a hardware device integrated within or coupled with the computing device, a user selection of a selected data element from among the plurality of displayed selectable data elements

[0053] Step 506 comprises responding to receiving the user selection of a selected data element from among the plurality of displayed selectable data elements by (i) implementing a state change in the instance of the software application based on the selected data element and (ii) removing the selected data element from the plurality of displayed selectable data elements within the input control.

[0054] In an embodiment of the method of Figure 5, removal of the selected data element from the plurality of displayed selectable data elements within the input control comprises substituting the selected data element within said plurality of displayed selectable data elements with a substitute selectable data element.

[0055] In another embodiment of the method, each selectable data element within the plurality of displayed selectable data elements is displayed and selectable within the input control for a defined time duration.

[0056] In a particular embodiment of the above method, upon expiry of the defined time duration associated with a selectable data element that is displayed within the input control, the selectable data element is substituted within the input control with another selectable data element. Further, a computing device at which the method is being performed may be configured to vary or reduce said time duration after elapse of a predefined time period from detection of a defined event associated with the instance of a software application that is being executed by the processor - for example, (i) after elapse of a predefined time period from instantiation of the instance of the software application, or (ii) when the software application is a computer game software application, after elapse of a predefined time period from detection of a predefined gameevent (such as start of a new game session, or start of a new turn for a user or game player).

[0057] In one embodiment of the above method, the input control displays the plurality of selectable data elements, in any of a horizontal band configuration, a vertical band configuration, a circular band configuration, a semi-circular band configuration, or a geometrically shaped band configuration.

[0058] In another embodiment of the method, the software application is a computer game software application that involves user input to select any of die face from among a plurality of die faces, an icon from among a plurality of icons, a playing card from among a plurality of playing cards, or a token from among a plurality of tokens, for the purposes of selecting an input value to effect a state change in the computer game software application.

[0059] In a particular embodiment of the above method, substitution of selectable data elements displayed within the input control upon expiry of defined time durations associated with each of said selectable data elements is achieved by implementing the input control as a scrolling band of selectable data elements, wherein selectable elements for which the corresponding defined time duration has expired exit the input control from one side of the scrolling band and replacement selectable data elements enter the input control from an opposite side of the band.

[0060] In another embodiment of the method, upon substitution of a selectable data element within the input control with a replacement selectable data element, the position of one or more selectable data elements that are displayed within the input control and for which the corresponding defined time duration has not expired, is shuffled or changed within the display screen.

[0061] The method and systems of the present invention may be used to implement a computer game software application that operates either in single player mode or in multiplayer mode.

[0062] In single player mode, the input control that displays the plurality of selectable data elements is uniquely generated and displayed to the user / game player on thedisplay screen of that user / game player, and the input control is dedicated to that user / gameplayer for the purpose of enabling game control inputs to be provided by the user / gameplayer for controlling a state or an outcome of the game.

[0063] In one embodiment of multiplayer mode, each user / gameplayer who is participating in a game, is assigned a unique input control that displays the plurality of selectable data elements to the corresponding user / game player on the display screen of that user / game player. Accordingly, in this embodiment, a first set of selectable data elements are displayed to a first user / gameplayer within a first input control that is displayed on a first display screen of the first user / gameplayer, while a second set of selectable data elements are displayed to a second user / gameplayer within a second input control that is displayed on a second display screen of the second user / gameplayer. In this embodiment, the selectable data elements within each of the firstand second sets of selectable data elements are independent of each other, and may or may not overlap. Further, in this embodiment, selection of a data element by the any user / gameplayer within the set of selectable data elements that displayed within the input control assigned and displayed to that user / gameplayer, results in removal or substitution of the selected data element from said set of selectable data elements, but does not affect the data elements that are displayed and available for selection within input control(s) that are assigned to any other user / gameplayer.

[0064] In another embodiment of multiplayer mode, a set of users / gameplayers who are participating in a game are assigned a common input control that displays the plurality of selectable data elements to each user / game player within the set of users / gameplayers, on the display screens of each such user / game player. Accordingly, in this embodiment, a common set of selectable data elements are displayed to each user / game player within the set of users / gameplayers within the common input control. In this embodiment, selection of a data element by the any user / gameplayer within the set of users / gameplayers, results in removal or substitution of the selected data element from the set of selectable data elements displayed within the common input control, which changes the data elements that are displayed and available for selection within common input control(s) for all of the users / gameplayers within the set of users / gameplayers.

[0065] Although the illustrations in Figures 1 to 4 have been provided in the context of a computer implemented version of “Ludo” or the “Ludo Board Game”, it would be understood that the invention is equally applicable to any other computer game or software application that relies on a roll of dice or selection of a die face / dice face or selection of an icon or token from among a set of icons or tokens for determining a game outcome or a change in game state or a change in state of the software application.

[0066] Figure 6 illustrates an exemplary system for implementing the present invention.

[0067] Figure 6 illustrates an exemplary system 600 for implementing the present invention. The illustrated system 600 comprises computer system 602 which in turn comprises one or more processors 604 and at least one memory 606. Processor 604 is configured to execute program instructions - and may be a real processor or a virtual processor. It will be understood that computer system 602 does not suggest any limitation as to scope of use or functionality of described embodiments. The computer system 602 may include, but is not be limited to, one or more of a general-purpose computer, a programmed microprocessor, a micro-controller, an integrated circuit, and other devices or arrangements of devices that are capable of implementing the steps that constitute the method of the present invention. Exemplary embodiments of a computer system 602 in accordance with the present invention may include one or more servers, desktops, laptops, tablets, smart phones, mobile phones, mobile communication devices, tablets, phablets and personal digital assistants. In an embodiment of the present invention, the memory 606 may store software for implementing various embodiments of the present invention. The computer system 602 may have additional components. For example, the computer system 602 may include one or more communication channels 608, one or more input devices 610, one or more output devices 612, and storage 614. An interconnection mechanism (not shown) such as a bus, controller, or network, interconnects the components of the computer system 602. In various embodiments of the present invention, operating system software (not shown) provides an operating environment for various softwares executing in the computer system 602 using a processor 604, and manages different functionalities of the components of the computer system 602.

[0068] The communication channels] 608 allow communication over a communication medium to various other computing entities. The communication medium provides information such as program instructions, or other data in a communication media. The communication media includes, but is not limited to, wired or wireless methodologies implemented with an electrical, optical, RF, infrared, acoustic, microwave, Bluetooth or other transmission media.

[0069] The input device(s) 610 may include, but is not limited to, a touch screen, a keyboard, mouse, pen, joystick, trackball, a voice device, a scanning device, or any another device that is capable of providing input to the computer system 602. In an embodiment of the present invention, the input device(s) 610 may be a sound card or similar device that accepts audio input in analog or digital form. The output device(s) 612 may include, but not be limited to, a user interface on CRT, LCD, LED display, or any other display associated with any of servers, desktops, laptops, tablets, smart phones, mobile phones, mobile communication devices, tablets, phablets and personal digital assistants, printer, speaker, CD / DVD writer, or any other device that provides output from the computer system 602.

[0070] The storage 614 may include, but not be limited to, magnetic disks, magnetic tapes, CD-ROMs, CD-RWs, DVDs, any types of computer memory, magnetic stripes, smart cards, printed barcodes or any other transitory or non-transitory medium which can be used to store information and can be accessed by the computer system 602. In various embodiments of the present invention, the storage 614 may contain program instructions for implementing any of the described embodiments.

[0071] In an embodiment of the present invention, the computer system 602 is part of a distributed network or a part of a set of available cloud resources.

[0072] The present invention may be implemented in numerous ways including as a system, a method, or a computer program product such as a computer readable storage medium or a computer network wherein programming instructions are communicated from a remote location.

[0073] The present invention may suitably be embodied as a computer program product for use with the computer system 602. The method described herein is typically implemented as a computer program product, comprising a set of program instructions that is executed by the computer system 602 or any other similar device. The set of program instructions may be a series of computer readable codes stored on a tangible medium, such as a computer readable storage medium (storage 614), for example, diskette, CD-ROM, ROM, flash drives or hard disk, or transmittable to the computer system 602, via a modem or other interface device, over either a tangible medium, including but not limited to optical or analogue communications channel(s) 608. The implementation of the invention as a computer program product may be in an intangible form using wireless techniques, including but not limited to microwave, infrared, Bluetooth or other transmission techniques. These instructions can be preloaded into a system or recorded on a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, or made available for downloading over a network such as the Internet or a mobile telephone network. The series of computer readable instructions may embody all or part of the functionality previously described herein.

[0074] In various embodiments, the above described invention may be implemented in the form of a system, or a method, or a computer program product. The invention accordingly provides methods, systems and computer program products for implementing an input control in a device configured for computer gaming

[0075] While the exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described and illustrated herein, it will be appreciated that they are merely illustrative. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Additionally, the invention illustratively disclose herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element which is not specifically disclosed herein - and in a particular embodiment specifically contemplated, is intended to be practiced in the absence of any element which is not specifically disclosed herein.

Claims

I Claim:

1. A method for implementing an input control in a computing device, comprising implementing at a processor, the steps of : rendering on a display screen, a display interface generated by an instance of a software application that is being executed by the processor, wherein the rendered display interface includes an input control that displays a plurality of selectable data elements, and wherein said input control is configured to enable user selection of a data element from among the plurality of displayed selectable data elements, for input to the instance of the software application; and responsive to receiving, through a hardware device integrated within or coupled with the computing device, a user selection of a selected data element from among the plurality of displayed selectable data elements: implementing a state change in the instance of the software application based on the selected data element; and removing the selected data element from the plurality of displayed selectable data elements within the input control.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein removal of the selected data element from the plurality of displayed selectable data elements within the input control comprises substituting the selected data element within said plurality of displayed selectable data elements with a substitute selectable data element.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein each selectable data element within the plurality of displayed selectable data elements is displayed and selectable within the input control for a defined time duration.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein upon expiry of the defined time duration associated with a selectable data element that is displayed within the inputcontrol, said selectable data element is substituted within the input control with another selectable data element.

5. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the computing device varies or reduces said time duration after elapse of a predefined time period from detection of a defined event associated with the instance of a software application that is being executed by the processor.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the input control displays the plurality of selectable data elements, in any of a horizontal band configuration, a vertical band configuration, a circular band configuration, a semi-circular band configuration, or a geometrically shaped band configuration.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the software application is a computer game software application that involves user input to select any of die face from among a plurality of die faces, an icon from among a plurality of icons, a playing card from among a plurality of playing cards, or a token from among a plurality of tokens, for the purposes of selecting an input value to effect a state change in the computer game software application.

8. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein substitution of selectable data elements displayed within the input control upon expiry of defined time durations associated with each of said selectable data elements is achieved by implementing the input control as a scrolling band of selectable data elements, wherein selectable elements for which the corresponding defined time duration has expired exit the input control from one side of the scrolling band and replacement selectable data elements enter the input control from an opposite side of the band.

9. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein upon substitution of a selectable data element within the input control with a replacement selectable data element, the position of one or more selectable data elements that are displayed within the input control and for which the corresponding defined time duration has not expired, is shuffled or changed within the display screen.

10. A system for implementing an input control in a computing device, the system comprising a processor, memory and display screen, wherein the processor is configured to implement the steps of : rendering on a display screen, a display interface generated by an instance of a software application that is being executed by the processor, wherein the rendered display interface includes an input control that displays a plurality of selectable data elements, and wherein said input control is configured to enable user selection of a data element from among the plurality of displayed selectable data elements, for input to the instance of the software application; and responsive to receiving, through a hardware device integrated within or coupled with the computing device, a user selection of a selected data element from among the plurality of displayed selectable data elements: implementing a state change in the instance of the software application based on the selected data element; and removing the selected data element from the plurality of displayed selectable data elements within the input control.

11. The system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the processor is configured such that removal of the selected data element from the plurality of displayed selectable data elements within the input control comprises substituting the selected data element within said plurality of displayed selectable data elements with a substitute selectable data element.

12. The system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the processor is configured such that each selectable data element within the plurality of displayed selectable data elements is displayed and selectable within the input control for a defined time duration.

13. The system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the processor is configured such that upon expiry of the defined time duration associated with a selectable data element that is displayed within the input control, said selectable data element is substituted within the input control with another selectable data element.

14. The system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the processor is configured to vary or reduce said time duration after elapse of a predefined time period from detection of a defined event associated with the instance of a software application that is being executed by the processor.

15. The system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the processor is configured such that the input control displays the plurality of selectable data elements, in any of a horizontal band configuration, a vertical band configuration, a circular band configuration, a semicircular band configuration, or a geometrically shaped band configuration.

16. The system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the software application is a computer game software application that involves user input to select any of die face from among a plurality of die faces, an icon from among a plurality of icons, a playing card from among a plurality of playing cards, or a token from among a plurality of tokens, for the purposes of selecting an input value to effect a state change in the computer game software application.

17. The system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the processor is configured such that substitution of selectable data elements displayed within the input control upon expiry of defined time durations associated with each of said selectable data elements is achieved by implementing the input control as a scrolling band of selectable data elements, wherein selectable elements for which the corresponding defined time duration has expired exit the input control from one side of the scrolling band and replacement selectable data elements enter the input control from an opposite side of the band.

18. The system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the processor is configured such that upon substitution of a selectable data element within the input control with areplacement selectable data element, the position of one or more selectable data elements that are displayed within the input control and for which the corresponding defined time duration has not expired, is shuffled or changed within the display screen.

19. A computer program product for implementing an input control in a computing device, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having a computer readable program code embodied therein, wherein the computer readable program code comprises instructions for performing at, at least one processor, the steps of: rendering on a display screen, a display interface generated by an instance of a software application that is being executed by the processor, wherein the rendered display interface includes an input control that displays a plurality of selectable data elements, and wherein said input control is configured to enable user selection of a data element from among the plurality of displayed selectable data elements, for input to the instance of the software application; and responsive to receiving, through a hardware device integrated within or coupled with the computing device, a user selection of a selected data element from among the plurality of displayed selectable data elements: implementing a state change in the instance of the software application based on the selected data element; and removing the selected data element from the plurality of displayed selectable data elements within the input control.

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