Computer game

• US 20020115482A1
• Filed: 12/12/2001
• Published: 08/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Align Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Cadent Incorporated
• Inventors: Taub, Eldad
• Granted Patent: US 7,001,270 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/655 by importing photos, e.g. of the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/75 Enforcing rules, e.g. detecting foul play or generating lists of cheating players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/80 Special adaptations for executing a specific game genre or game mode
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5586 for enforcing rights or rules, e.g. to prevent foul play
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/695 Imported photos, e.g. of the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8094 Unusual game types, e.g. virtual cooking
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 23/283 for dentistry or oral hygiene G09B23/286 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention relates to a computer game, which, when operating on a computer enables a user, via a user'"'"'s interface, to perform one or more tasks within a virtual environment, the virtual environment comprising a virtual three dimensional dental image of at least one tooth and the tasks performed by the user leading to the improvement of a certain virtual condition associated with said at least one tooth. The three dimensional dental image employed in the computer game is preferably based on or derived from a real life dental environment. The invention further relates to a storage medium for storing data representation of the above computer game and to a method of playing the computer game of the present invention using a computer.

Claims

1. For use in a computer and associated storage medium, a computer game, in which a user, through a user interface, performs one or more tasks within a virtual environment, the game being characterized in that:

said environment comprises a virtual three-dimensional dental image of at least one tooth of the user; and

said one or more tasks comprise improving a certain virtual condition associated with said at least one tooth.

2. A computer game according to claim 1, wherein said virtual image comprises a plurality of teeth of at least a continuous section of teeth.

3. A computer game according to claim 2, wherein said virtual image comprises substantially all teeth of at least one jaw.

4. A computer game according to claim 3, wherein said virtual image comprises substantially all teeth of both the upper and lower jaws.

5. A computer game according to claim 4, wherein the user can manipulate the mutual orientation of the two jaws.

6. A computer game according to claim 3, wherein said condition is an inappropriate relative position or orientation of at least one tooth or of a jaw;

and said one or more tasks comprise re-orientation of one or more teeth.

7. A computer game according to claim 4, wherein said condition is an inappropriate relative position or orientation of at least one tooth or of a jaw;

and said one or more tasks comprise one or more of re-orientation of one or more teeth, or changing relative position of the two jaws.

8. A computer game according to claim 1, wherein said condition is a disorder in or lack of structural integrity of one or more teeth, and said one or more tasks comprise improving or fixing said disorder or lack of structural integrity.

9. A computer game according to claim 8, wherein said disorder or lack of structural integrity comprises damage resulting from one or more virtual infectious agents and said one or more tasks comprise elimination of said agents.

10. A computer game according to claim 6, wherein said one or more tasks are being performed by applying virtual rules, tools or components, corresponding to manner of dental, personal or orthodontic treatment of teeth or jaws.

11. A computer game according to claim 7, wherein said one or more tasks are being performed by applying virtual rules, tools or components, corresponding to manner of dental, personal or orthodontic treatment of teeth or jaws.

12. A computer game according to claim 8, wherein said one or more tasks are being performed by applying virtual rules, tools or components, corresponding to manner of dental, personal or orthodontic treatment of teeth or jaws.

13. A computer game according to claim 9, wherein said one or more tasks are being performed by applying virtual rules, tools or components, corresponding to manner of dental, personal or orthodontic treatment of teeth or jaws.

14. A computer game according to claim 10, wherein said virtual rules comprise rules of movements of teeth or jaws corresponding to such in a real-life orthodontic treatment.

15. A computer game according to claim 11, wherein said virtual rules comprise rules of movements of teeth or jaws corresponding to such in a real-life orthodontic treatment.

16. A computer game according to claim 12, wherein said virtual rules comprise rules of movements of teeth or jaws corresponding to such in a real-life orthodontic treatment.

17. A computer game according to claim 13, wherein said virtual rules comprise rules of movements of teeth or jaws corresponding to such in a real-life orthodontic treatment.

18. A computer game according to claim 10, wherein said virtual tools or components comprise virtual personal mouth hygiene tools.

19. A computer game according to claim 11, wherein said virtual tools or components comprise virtual personal mouth hygiene tools.

20. A computer game according to claim 12, wherein said virtual tools or components comprise virtual personal mouth hygiene tools.

21. A computer game according to claim 13, wherein said virtual tools or components comprise virtual personal mouth hygiene tools.

22. A computer game according to claim 10, wherein said virtual tools or components are virtual orthodontic components corresponding to real-life orthodontic components.

23. A computer game according to claim 11, wherein said virtual tools or components are virtual orthodontic components corresponding to real-life orthodontic components.

24. A computer game according to claim 12, wherein said virtual tools or components are virtual orthodontic components corresponding to real-life orthodontic components.

25. A computer game according to claim 13, wherein said virtual tools or components are virtual orthodontic components corresponding to real-life orthodontic components.

26. A computer game according to claim 10, wherein said virtual rules permitting elimination of virtual infectious agents from the virtual teeth.

27. A computer game according to claim 11, wherein said virtual rules permitting elimination of virtual infectious agents from the virtual teeth.

28. A computer game according to claim 12, wherein said virtual rules permitting elimination of virtual infectious agents from the virtual teeth.

29. A computer game according to claim 13, wherein said virtual rules permitting elimination of virtual infectious agents from the virtual teeth.

30. A method for a user to play a game in a computer, comprising:

(a) extracting data from a storage medium, the data being representative of a virtual environment comprising a virtual three-dimensional dental image of at least one tooth of the user, and displaying said virtual environment; and

(b) performing, in response to a user command, one or more tasks within a virtual environment to obtain a modified environment and displaying same;

said one or more tasks comprise improving a certain virtual condition associated with the at least one tooth.

31. A method according to claim 30, comprising an additional step of:

(c) storing data representative of said modified environment in a storage medium.

32. A method according to claim 30, wherein step (b) is repeated a plurality of times.

33. A method according to claim 32, wherein said virtual three-dimensional dental image comprises substantially all teeth of at least one jaw.

34. A method according to claim 33, wherein said virtual three-dimensional dental image comprises substantially all teeth of at least one jaw.

35. A method according to claim 34, wherein said virtual three-dimensional dental image comprises substantially all teeth of both the upper and lower jaws of the individual.

36. A method according to claim 30, wherein said dental image represents teeth of the user.

37. A method according to claim 30, comprising the following step:

(b1) manipulating, in response to a user command, the relative position or orientation of at least one tooth or of a jaw, wherein step (b1) is carried out either before, simultaneously or after step (b).

38. A method according to claim 37, wherein the manipulation involves use of virtual orthodontic components corresponding to real orthodontic components used in actual orthodontic treatment.

39. A method according claim 30, comprising the following step between steps (a) and (b):

(a1) providing virtual tools or components for the user'"'"'s selection for performing said task.

40. A method according to claim 39, wherein said virtual tools or components comprise virtual tools corresponding to real-life personal dental hygiene tools or virtual components corresponding to real-life orthodontic components.

41. A program having instructions adapted for carrying out the following steps:

(a) extracting data from a storage medium, the data being representative of a virtual environment comprising a virtual three-dimensional dental image of at least one tooth of a user, and displaying said virtual environment; and

(b) performing, in response to a user command, one or more tasks within a virtual environment to obtain a modified environment and displaying same;

said one or more tasks comprise improving a certain virtual condition associated with said at least one tooth.

42. A program product stored on a computer readable storage medium comprising code means adapted for carrying out method steps of:

(a) extracting data from a storage medium, the data being representative of a virtual environment comprising a virtual three-dimensional dental image of at least one tooth of the user, and displaying said virtual environment; and

(b) performing, in response to a user command, one or more tasks within the virtual environment to obtain a modified environment and displaying same;

said one or more tasks comprise improving a certain virtual condition associated with said at least one tooth.

43. A data carrier with an embodied computer readable code for carrying out the steps of:

(a) extracting data from a storage medium, the data being representative of a virtual environment comprising a virtual three-dimensional dental image of at least one tooth of the user, and displaying said virtual environment; and

(b) performing, in response to a user command, one or more tasks within the virtual environment to obtain a modified environment and displaying same;

said one or more tasks comprise improving a certain virtual condition associated with said at least one tooth.