Apparatus for adapting virtual gaming with real world information

• US 10,512,844 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2017
• Issued: 12/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steelseries Aps
• Original Assignee: Steelseries Aps
• Inventors: Aronzon, Michael, Hawver, Bruce, Grever, Francis Arnold
• Primary Examiner(s): Lim, Seng Heng
• Application Number:
  US15/829,502
• Publication Number:
  US 20180104594A1
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/216 using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/25 Output arrangements for video game devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• 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 13/537 using indicators, e.g. showing the condition of a game character on screen
• 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 13/825 Fostering virtual characters
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/205 for detecting the geographical location of the game platform
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5573 player location
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/572 Communication between players during game play of non game information, e.g. e-mail, chat, file transfer, streaming of audio and streaming of video
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/69 Involving elements of the real world in the game world, e.g. measurement in live races, real video
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/695 Imported photos, e.g. of the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8023 the game being played by multiple players at a common site, e.g. in an arena, theatre, shopping mall using a large public display
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8076 Shooting
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8082 Virtual reality

Abstract

A server device that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a memory and a processor. The processor can identify first and second players present at first and second physical locations, to identify first and second boundary and topographical information of the first and second physical locations, to map the first and second boundary and topographical information of the first and second physical locations to a virtual gaming space, to capture first and second position and orientation information for the first and second players, to map the first and second position and orientation information to the virtual gaming space, to generate first and second virtual players corresponding to the first and second players, and to transmit to first goggles information representative of the second virtual player for display superimposed onto a transparent viewing apparatus for viewing of the virtual gaming space. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A non-transitory, machine-readable medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system including a processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising:

mapping boundary and topographical information of a physical location to a virtual gaming space of a virtual game application;

generating a virtual structure corresponding to the virtual gaming space;

capturing first position and orientation information for a first player device at the physical location;

mapping the first position and orientation information for the first player device to the virtual gaming space;

generating a first virtual player associated with the first player device by way of adapting at least one captured image of a first player associated with the first player device;

transmitting, to the first player device, information representative of the virtual structure and of the first virtual player, wherein the first player device presents the first virtual player in the virtual structure;

receiving an input stimulation associated with the first player device;

replacing the input stimulation with a substitute stimulation generated via a single input macro associated with an accessory management profile; and

transmitting the substitute stimulation to the virtual game application.

2. The non-transitory, machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

identifying an action of the first player device at the physical location;

mapping the action of the first player device to the virtual gaming space to generate a virtual action for the first virtual player;

determining a virtual effect of the virtual action of the first virtual player; and

transmitting, to the first player device, information representative of the virtual effect.

3. The non-transitory, machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the first player device comprises a virtual reality goggle device.

4. The non-transitory, machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

capturing second position and orientation information for a second player device at the physical location;

mapping the second position and orientation information for the second player device to the virtual gaming space to generate a second virtual player corresponding to the second player device;

transmitting, to the first player device, information representative of the second virtual player, wherein the first player device displays the second virtual player in the virtual structure; and

transmitting, to the second player device, information representative of the first virtual player, wherein the second player device displays the first virtual player in the virtual structure.

5. The non-transitory, machine-readable medium of claim 4, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a request for communications between the first player device and the second player device;

responsive to the request, initiating a communications link between the first player device and the second player device;

receiving first messages from the first player device and the second player device; and

transmitting second messages to the first player device and the second player device.

6. The non-transitory, machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

identifying a computer-controlled player generated by a virtual game;

mapping position and orientation information for the computer-controlled player to the virtual gaming space to generate a virtual computer-controlled player corresponding to the computer-controlled player; and

transmitting, to the first player, device information representative of the virtual computer-controlled player, wherein the first player device displays the virtual computer-controlled player in the virtual structure.

7. The non-transitory, machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise receiving the first position and orientation information for the first player device from at least one of the first player device, a virtual reality goggle device, first player clothing, or a first player gaming accessory.

8. The non-transitory, machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the first position and orientation information for the first player device comprises sensory data derived from at least one of a gyroscope, a compass, an accelerometer, a level detector, a diode array, a global positioning system detector, an infrared detector, or an antenna.

9. The non-transitory, machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

initiating a plurality of wireless communications links between the first player device and a plurality of wireless devices in the virtual gaming space;

receiving a plurality of wireless signal strength readings at the first player device corresponding to each of the plurality of wireless communication links in the virtual gaming space; and

determining the first position and orientation of the first player device according to the plurality of wireless signal strength readings.

10. The non-transitory, machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

generating a plurality of virtual objects distributed within the virtual gaming space; and

transmitting, to the first player, device information representative of the plurality of virtual objects, wherein the first player device displays the plurality of virtual objects in the virtual structure.

11. The non-transitory, machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the first player device comprises one of a mobile communication device, a portable computer device, or a cellular telephone.

12. A device, comprising:

a processing system including a processor; and

a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations, comprising;

mapping boundary and topographical information of a physical location to a virtual gaming space of a virtual game application;

generating a virtual structure corresponding to the virtual gaming space;

capturing first position and orientation information for a first player device at the physical location;

mapping the first position and orientation information for the first player device to the virtual gaming space;

transmitting, to the first player device, information representative of the virtual structure and of a first virtual player, wherein the first player device presents the first virtual player in the virtual structure;

receiving an input stimulation associated with the first player device;

replacing the input stimulation with a substitute stimulation generated via a single input macro associated with an accessory management profile; and

transmitting the substitute stimulation to the virtual game application.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the operations further comprise generating the first virtual player associated with the first player device by way of adapting at least one captured image of a first player associated with the first player device.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein the operations further comprise:

identifying an action of the first player device at the physical location;

mapping the action of the first player device to the virtual gaming space to generate a virtual action for the first virtual player;

determining a virtual effect of the virtual action of the first virtual player; and

transmitting, to the first player, device information representative of the virtual effect.

15. The device of claim 12, wherein the first player device comprises a virtual reality goggle device.

16. The device of claim 12, wherein the operations further comprise:

identifying a computer-controlled player generated by a virtual game;

mapping position and orientation information for the computer-controlled player to the virtual gaming space to generate a virtual computer-controlled player corresponding to the computer-controlled player; and

transmitting, to the first player, device information representative of the virtual computer-controlled player, wherein the first player device displays the virtual computer-controlled player in the virtual structure.

17. The device of claim 12, wherein the operations further comprise:

initiating a plurality of wireless communications links between the first player device and a plurality of wireless devices in the virtual gaming space;

receiving a plurality of wireless signal strength readings at the first player device corresponding to each of the plurality of wireless communication links in the virtual gaming space; and

determining the first position and orientation of the first player device according to the plurality of wireless signal strength readings.

18. The device of claim 12, wherein the operations further comprise:

generating a plurality of virtual objects distributed within the virtual gaming space; and

transmitting, to the first player, device information representative of the plurality of virtual objects, wherein the first player device displays the plurality of virtual objects in the virtual structure.

19. A method, comprising:

mapping, by a processing system including a processor, boundary and topographical information of a physical location to a virtual gaming space of a virtual game application;

capturing, by the processing system, first position and orientation information for a first player device at the physical location;

mapping, by the processing system, the first position and orientation information for the first player device to the virtual gaming space;

transmitting, by the processing system to the first player device, information representative of a virtual structure and of a first virtual player, wherein the first player device presents the first virtual player in the virtual structure;

receiving, by the processing system, an input stimulation associated with the first player device;

replacing, by the processing system, the input stimulation with a substitute stimulation generated via a single input macro associated with an accessory management profile; and

transmitting, by the processing system, the substitute stimulation to the virtual game application.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

identifying, by the processing system, an action of the first player device at the physical location;

mapping, by the processing system, the action of the first player device to the virtual gaming space to generate a virtual action for the first virtual player;

determining, by the processing system, a virtual effect of the virtual action of the first virtual player; and

transmitting, by the processing system to the first player, device information representative of the virtual effect.