U.S. Patent No. 10,761,699: Virtual opening of boxes and packs of cards
Issued September 1, 2020, to Hothead Games Inc.
Filed: November 30, 2018 (claiming priority to February 6, 2012)
Overview:
U.S. Patent No. 10,761,699 (the ‘699 patent) relates to digitally opening packs of cards. The ‘699 patent details a system which transmits a visual representation of a card pack to a client device of a user, receives a touch-based input from the user on the pack which indicates opening of the pack, transmits signals for haptic feedback correlating to the opening, and generates a display of the cards. The opening in the ‘699 patent includes an animation of tearing the package to expose the cards and then displaying them in the interface. The goal here is likely to make opening digital card packs more satisfying for a user. However, despite this case being granted in a post-Alice era, there may be some lingering questions regarding the claimed subject matter.
Abstract:
Systems and methods for virtual opening of packages such as boxes and packs of cards are provided herein. Exemplary systems may execute methods via one or more processors, which are programmed to generate a visual representation of a package, receive input from the user, the input indicating opening of the package, and provide feedback to the user corresponding to the opening of the package that at least partially mimics a physical opening of the package.
Illustrative Claims:
- A system comprising: one or more processors; and logic encoded in one or more tangible media for execution by the one or more processors and when executed operable to perform operations comprising: transmitting a visual representation of a package of a set of virtual cards to a client device for display to a user; receiving a touch-based input from the user on the package displayed via a graphical user interface of the client device, the touch-based input indicating opening of the package by the user; transmitting, to the client device, signals that are used by the client device to provide haptic feedback to the user from the client device in conjunction with the opening of the package, the opening of the package comprising tearing of the package so as to expose at least one of the set of virtual cards; and generating for display the at least one of the set of virtual cards on the graphical user interface.
