Capture and utilization of real-world data for use in gaming systems such as video games

• US 10,512,835 B1
• Filed: 05/08/2017
• Issued: 12/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Christopher Lee Kavars, Leslie Davis
• Original Assignee: Christopher Lee Kavars, Leslie Davis
• Inventors: Kavars, Christopher Lee, Davis, Leslie
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Williams, Ross A
• Application Number:
  US15/588,823
• Time in Patent Office: 960 Days
• Field of Search: 463 7, 463 36- 42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/212 using sensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat or leg activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/25 Output arrangements for video game devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/428 involving motion or position input signals, e.g. signals representing the rotation of an input controller or a player's arm motions sensed by accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1012 involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands

Abstract

A portable sensor unit for capturing motion and/or other data may be securely mounted on objects such as a user'"'"'s limb, a vehicle, or other items. The sensor unit may then collect motion and/or other data from the object to which it is affixed, and may provide this data to a data logger which stores the data. The data logger may subsequently communicate the data to a gaming system which may tailor the motion characteristics of a virtual object to resemble those of the real-world object from which the motion data was captured. Thus, a user can (for example) capture motion data from a vehicle, with this data being supplied to a video gaming unit which provides a virtual vehicle having the same acceleration/deceleration, handling, and other characteristics.

Claims

1. A method for capturing and utilizing data from a moving object for use in a game, the method including the steps of:

a. while the object is moving, collecting object motion data over a data capture time period, the object motion data representing one or more characteristics of the object'"'"'s motion;

b. subsequently supplying an object motion data set to a gaming unit, the object motion data set being generated from the collected object motion data;

c. playing a game on the gaming unit wherein;

(1) the game features a virtual game object in motion, and

(2) wherein the motion of the virtual game object is dependent on;

i. the object motion data set, and

ii. game play input received by the gaming unit from a game player during the display of the moving virtual game object.

2. The method of claim 1:

a. further including the step of delivering object motion instructions to the game player, and

b. wherein the game player moves the object in accordance with the motion instructions,

prior to the start of the game.

3. The method of claim 1:

a. further including the step of delivering queries to the game player prior to the start of the game regarding characteristics of at least one of;

(1) the object, and

(2) the game player; and

b. the motion of the virtual game object in the gaming unit is also dependent on game player responses to the queries.

4. The method of claim 3:

a. further including the step of delivering motion instructions to the game player prior to the start of the game;

b. wherein the game player moves the object in accordance with the motion instructions; and

c. wherein the queries are received by the game player during or near the time the game player receives the motion instructions.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the queries and the motion instructions are delivered to the game player on a display screen.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the display screen is further configured to display the virtual game object in motion.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the object motion data set is supplied to the gaming unit after the object'"'"'s motion has ceased.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the object motion data is collected by a sensor unit.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the sensor unit includes an accelerometer configured to detect motion in at least one dimension.

10. A method for capturing and utilizing data from a moving object for use in a game, the method including the steps of:

a. storing object motion data during motion of the object;

c. generating an object motion data set from the stored object motion data, wherein the object motion data set characterizes the object'"'"'s motion;

d. thereafter displaying a virtual game object in motion on a gaming unit, with the motion of the virtual game object being;

(1) dependent on;

(a) the object motion data set, and

(b) game play input received by the gaming unit from a game player during the display of the moving virtual game object,

(2) independent of any object motion data stored during the display of the moving virtual game object.

11. The method of claim 10:

a. further including the step of delivering queries to the game player prior to motion of the virtual game object regarding characteristics of the game player; and

b. wherein the motion of the virtual game object is also dependent on game player responses to the queries.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein:

a. the queries are delivered to the game player during or near the time that the sensor unit stores object motion data, and

b. the virtual game object is displayed in motion on the gaming unit at a later time thereafter.

13. The method of claim 10:

a. further including the step of delivering motion instructions to the game player prior to motion of the virtual game object, and

b. wherein the object motion data is stored while the game player moves in accordance with the motion instructions.

14. The method of claim 10 further including the steps of:

a. providing a sensor unit being configured to detect motion in at least one dimension;

b. storing object motion data from the sensor unit during motion of the object;

c. generating the object motion data set from the stored data of the sensor unit.

15. A system utilizing data from a moving real-world object in a game, the system including a gaming unit configured to:

a. receive an object motion data set generated from object motion data, the object motion data being collected from an object over a data capture time period during motion of the object;

b. thereafter execute a game wherein images of a virtual game object are displayed in motion, with the motion of the virtual game object;

(1) being dependent on;

(a) the object motion data set, and

(b) game play input collected from a game player during the display of the moving virtual game object,

(2) being independent of any object motion data collected from the object after the start of the game.

16. The system of claim 15 further including a sensor unit configured to collect the object motion data from the object over the data capture time period during motion of the object.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein:

a. the sensor unit is configured to supply queries to the game player prior to the start of the game; and

b. the motion of the virtual game object in the gaming unit is also dependent on game player responses to the queries.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein the gaming unit is configured to receive the object motion data set only:

a. after the end of the data capture time period; and

b. prior to the start of the game.

19. The system of claim 15 configured to supply to the game player one or more of:

a. queries regarding characteristics of the game player; and

b. instructions regarding how the object should move during the data capture time period,

prior to the start of the game.

20. The system of claim 19 further including a display screen configured to display one or more of the queries and the instructions.