Apparatus, system and method for enhancing a gaming experience

• US 10,143,918 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2017
• Issued: 12/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Playfusion Limited
• Original Assignee: Playfusion Limited
• Inventors: Hodgson, Riaan, Gomberg, David, Gerhard, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): HYLINSKI, ALYSSA MARIE
• Application Number:
  US15/637,648
• Publication Number:
  US 20180021675A1
• Time in Patent Office: 523 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/21 characterised by their sensors, purposes or types
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/323 between game devices with different hardware characteristics, e.g. hand-held game devices connectable to game consoles or arcade machines
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/42 by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/65 automatically by game devices or servers from real world data, e.g. measurement in live racing competition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/98 Accessories, i.e. detachable arrangements optional for the use of the video game device, e.g. grip supports of game controllers
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2200/00 Computerized interactive toys, e.g. dolls
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/003 specially adapted for a particular function not connected with dolls as electric lighting devices A63H3/006

Abstract

An apparatus comprises a housing configured to be added to a body associated with a software application implemented by a computer. The apparatus also comprises a sensor, a transceiver, a power supply, a memory, and a processor inside the housing. The processor is communicatively coupled with the sensor, the transceiver, the power supply, and the memory. The processor is configured to be communicatively coupled with the computer by way of the transceiver based, at least in part, on a determination that the housing is added to the body. The processor is also configured to cause the computer to generate a virtual representation of the body in a virtual reality viewable by way of a display associated with the computer. The processor is further configured to cause the computer to orient the virtual representation of the body in the virtual reality based on data collected by the sensor.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a housing configured to be added to a body associated with a software application implemented by a computer;

a sensor configured to collect data indicative of a real-world orientation of one or more of the housing or the body with respect to a reference position;

a transceiver;

a power supply;

a memory including computer program code for one or more programs; and

a processor inside the housing, the processor being communicatively coupled with the sensor, the transceiver, the power supply, and the memory,

wherein the processor is configured to execute an instruction from the memory to;

cause the processor to be communicatively coupled with the computer by way of the transceiver based, at least in part, on a determination that the housing is added to the body;

cause the computer to generate a virtual representation of the body in a virtual reality viewable by way of a display associated with the computer;

cause the computer to orient the virtual representation of the body in the virtual reality based on the data indicative of the real-world orientation of one or more of the housing or the body with respect to the reference position collected by the sensor;

detect a contact position between a physical object and the body based, at least in part, on a communicative coupling of the physical object with the body and an electrical coupling between the processor and the body, the contact position being at least one of a first contact position or a second contact position different from the first contact position;

set a function of the physical object to a first function based on a determination that the contact position is the first contact position, or a second function different from the first function based on a determination that the contact position is the second contact position;

cause the computer to generate a virtual representation of the physical object in the virtual reality;

cause the computer to orient a virtual version of the physical object with respect to a virtual version of the body based on the contact position; and

cause the virtual version of the physical object to be usable in accordance with the function of the physical object.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to determine the housing is added to the body based, at least in part, on an electrical coupling between the processor and the body.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:

a first terminal exposed from the housing, the first terminal being electrically coupled with the processor and configured to contact a second terminal included as a component of the body if the apparatus is added to the body,

wherein the electrical coupling between the processor and the body is by way of a contact between the first terminal and the second terminal.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising:

a third terminal exposed from the housing, the third terminal being configured to be electrically coupled with a fourth terminal included as a component of a modular part,

wherein the housing is configured to be physically coupled with the modular part.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the housing comprises:

a head portion; and

a shaft portion extending from the head portion,

wherein the shaft portion is configured to be inserted into the body to add the apparatus to the body.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the head portion is configured to remain outside the body if the shaft portion is inserted into the body.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the shaft portion comprises a locking member configured to interact with the body to facilitate selective attachment of the apparatus to the body.

8. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the electrical coupling between the processor and the body is an inductive coupling.

9. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein at least the power supply is electrically coupled with the body by way of an inductive coupling.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the sensor, the transceiver, the power supply, the memory are inside the housing, and the housing is configured to be entirely accommodated within, and to communicate wirelessly with, the body.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the housing is spherical.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the housing is a cube.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more lights communicatively coupled with the processor, the one or more lights being on an exterior of the housing,

wherein the processor is configured to cause at least one of the one or more lights to be on or off based, at least in part, on an instruction received from the computer associated with the software application.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more user input sensors communicatively coupled with the processor, the one or more user input sensors being configured to receive a user input associated with the software application implemented by the computer

wherein the processor is configured to cause a communication to be sent to the computer associated with the software application based on an input received from a user by way of at least one of the one or more user input sensors.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein at least one of the one or more user input sensors comprises a depressible button on an exterior of the housing.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a sensor package comprising one or more of an accelerometer, a gyroscope or an altimeter.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a motor communicatively coupled with the processor,

wherein

the processor is further configured to cause the motor to move based, at least in part, on a communication received from the computer associated with the software application, and

the motor is configured to cause the apparatus to vibrate the body if the apparatus is added to the body.

18. A system, comprising:

a body associated with a software application implemented by a computer;

a core, comprising;

a housing configured to be selectively added to the body or selectively removed subtracted from the body;

a sensor configured to collect data indicative of a real-world orientation of one or more of the housing or the body with respect to a reference position;

a transceiver;

a power supply;

a memory including computer program code for one or more programs; and

a processor inside the housing, the processor being communicatively coupled with the sensor, the transceiver, the power supply, and the memory, wherein the processor is configured to execute an instruction from the memory to;

cause the processor to be communicatively coupled with the computer by way of the transceiver based, at least in part, on a determination that the housing is added to the body;

cause the computer to generate a virtual representation of the body in a virtual reality viewable by way of a display associated with the computer;

cause the computer to orient the virtual representation of the body in the virtual reality based on the data indicative of the real-world orientation of one or more of the housing or the body with respect to the reference position collected by the sensor;

detect a contact position between a physical object and the body based, at least in part, on a communicative coupling of the physical object with the body and an electrical coupling between the processor and the body, the contact position being at least one of a first contact position or a second contact position different from the first contact position;

set a function of the physical object to a first function based on a determination that the contact position is the first contact position, or a second function different from the first function based on a determination that the contact position is the second contact position;

cause the computer to generate a virtual representation of the physical object in the virtual reality;

cause the computer to orient a virtual version of the physical object with respect to a virtual version of the body based on the contact position; and

cause the virtual version of the physical object to be usable in accordance with the function of the physical object.

19. A method, comprising:

adding a core to a body associated with a software application implemented by a computer;

communicatively coupling a processor included within a housing of the core with the computer based, at least in part, on a determination that the housing is added to the body;

causing the computer to generate a virtual representation of the body in a virtual reality viewable by way of a display associated with the computer;

causing the computer to orient the virtual representation of the body in the virtual reality based on data collected by a sensor included in the core;

detecting a contact position between a physical object and the body based, at least in part, on a communicative coupling of the physical object with the body and an electrical coupling between the processor and the body, the contact position being at least one of a first contact position or a second contact position different from the first contact position;

setting a function of the physical object to a first function based on a determination that the contact position is the first contact position, or a second function different from the first function based on a determination that the contact position is the second contact position;

causing the computer to generate a virtual representation of the physical object in the virtual reality;

causing the computer to orient a virtual version of the physical object with respect to a virtual version of the body based on the contact position; and

causing the virtual version of the physical object to be usable in accordance with the function of the physical object,

wherein the data collected by the sensor is indicative of a real-world orientation of one or more of the housing or the body with respect to a reference position.