Terminal and method for exchanging messages by means of tokens brought in proximity to said terminal, communication system, and token

• Main Authors: CRIEL, JOHAN GEORGES PROSPER, CLAEYS, LAURENCE, GEERTS, MARJAN, ROELANDS, MARC, DE VOEGT, KOEN, GODON, MARC, TRAPPENIERS, LIEVEN, FEKI, MOHAMED ALI, ZONTROP, PASCAL
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 23.11.2011
• Subjects: AMUSEMENTS; CALCULATING; CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; COMPUTING; COUNTING; DATA PROCESSING SYSTEMS OR METHODS, SPECIALLY ADAPTED FORADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL, SUPERVISORYOR FORECASTING PURPOSES; GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; HUMAN NECESSITIES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; PHYSICS; SPORTS; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE,COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL, SUPERVISORY OR FORECASTINGPURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; VIDEO GAMES

The invention pertains to a terminal (100a,b,c) for exchanging messages by placing tokens (210a,b,c) near it. The terminal comprises communication means to exchange information with a database, detection means for identifying local tokens placed near the terminal, display means for displaying remote tokens, and proximity logic configured to assert a proximity relationship between tokens or between a token and a reference point. The terminal exchanges information about the topology of its tokens and that of tokens present at other terminals via the database. The terminal displays tokens present near remote copies of the local tokens, based on information obtained from the database.