Multiuser real-scene tour simulation system and method of the same

• US 20030214530A1
• Filed: 01/21/2003
• Published: 11/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: VIA Technologies Incorporated (VIA Technologies)
• Original Assignee: VIA Technologies Incorporated (VIA Technologies)
• Inventors: Kuo, Parkson, Wang, Cher
• Application Number:
  US10/347,724
• Publication Number:
  US 20030214530A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/757
• 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 13/215 comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/216 using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/28 responding to control signals received from the game device for affecting ambient conditions, e.g. for vibrating players' seats, activating scent dispensers or affecting temperature or light controlling the output signals based on the game progress A63F13/50
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/32 using local area network [LAN] connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/34 using peer-to-peer connections
• 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 13/80 Special adaptations for executing a specific game genre or game mode
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1012 involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1081 Input via voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/302 specially adapted for receiving control signals not targeted to a display device or game input means, e.g. vibrating driver's seat, scent dispenser
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/404 characterized by a local network connection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/408 Peer to peer connection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5573 player location
• 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 2300/80 specially adapted for executing a specific type of game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8082 Virtual reality

Abstract

The present invention relates to a multi-user real-scene tour simulation system and method of the same. Especially, the present invention relates to a multi-user real-scene tour simulation system and method of the same that can provide multiple users or a single user an indoor real-scene simulation tour. A tour location (tour destination) in a tour location display system is first selected by a user and the relevant environment parameters of the tour location will be loaded into the system for simulation. The user can select either a single user mode or a multi-user mode. The user'"'"'s video and audio information will then be transmitted to all other users traveling in the same group, and the real-scene tour simulation system of the present invention will simulate the real scene of a tour based on the environment parameters associated with the tour location as well as the user'"'"'s video and audio information, and then, the result of the simulation will be presented to the user.

Claims

1. A real-scene tour simulation system that simulates real scenes interiorly to make a user feel like taking a real outdoor tour while performing an indoor activity, said real-scene tour simulation system comprises:

a tour location display system for providing tour locations for said user to select from, wherein said user can select a tour location from said tour location display system to proceed a tour;

an input device with which said user inputs said tour location for selection;

an environment simulation system for generating an environment-like simulation effect and presenting said environment-like simulation effect to said user, as well as for obtaining said user'"'"'s video and audio information;

an activity system with which said user can perform activities on; and

a control unit responding to environment parameters of said tour location being selected and said user'"'"'s video and audio information to generate a simulation result which simulates said user taking a real tour at said tour location, and to output said simulation result to said environment simulation system and said activity system and present to said user, wherein said user'"'"'s video and audio information is stacked onto said simulation result generated by said environment parameters of said tour location.

2. The real-scene tour simulation system according to claim 1, wherein said tour location display system is selected from the group consisting of geographic information system (GIS) and expert system.

3. The real-scene tour simulation system according to claim 1, wherein said simulation result includes at least one of the following simulation results associated with said tour location:

terrain;

atmospheric temperature;

sunshine intensity; and

environmental sound effect.

4. The real-scene tour simulation system according to claim 1, wherein said environment simulation system comprises at least one of the followings:

a display device;

an audio device;

an air conditioning device; and

a light source, for presenting said simulation result of said tour location to said user.

5. The real-scene tour simulation system according to claim 4, wherein said display device is selected from the group consisting of cathode ray tube (CRT) display system, liquid crystal display (LCD) system and plasma display system.

6. The real-scene tour simulation system according to claim 4, wherein said audio device is selected from the group consisting of twin-channel panning sound system, hi-fi stereo system and home theater 5.1D sound system.

7. The real-scene tour simulation system according to claim 4, wherein said environment simulation system further comprises a video and audio capturing system for obtaining said user'"'"'s video and audio information.

8. The real-scene tour simulation system according to claim 7, wherein said video and audio capturing system comprises a camera.

9. The real-scene tour simulation system according to claim 7, wherein said video and audio capturing system comprises a microphone.

10. The real-scene tour simulation system according to claim 1, wherein said activity system responding to said simulation result of said tour location, and thus presenting a terrain simulation result of said tour location to said user.

11. The real-scene tour simulation system according to claim 1, wherein said activity system comprises at least one of the followings:

an exercise equipment system and a video game system.

12. The real-scene tour simulation system according to claim 1, wherein said user'"'"'s video and audio information is presented on other environment simulation systems for other users traveling in a same group with said user.

13. The real-scene tour simulation system according to claim 12, wherein said user uses said input device to select said group to join in.

14. The real-scene tour simulation system according to claim 13, wherein when said user is not in any group, said user'"'"'s environment simulation system only presents said user'"'"'s video and audio information having stacked onto said simulation result generated by said environment parameters of said tour location.

15. The real-scene tour simulation system according to claim 12, wherein said user'"'"'s video and audio information is transferred to said other environment simulation systems of said other users traveling in said group via a communication connection.

16. The real-scene tour simulation system according to claim 12, wherein said user'"'"'s video and audio information is transferred to said other users traveling in said group via a communication connection, and is presented on said other environment simulation systems for said other users traveling in said group.

17. The real-scene tour simulation system according to claim 16, wherein said communication connection is connected with a server to transfer said user'"'"'s video and audio information to said other environment simulation systems for said other users traveling in said group.

18. The real-scene tour simulation system according to claim 17, wherein said server comprises a database for storing group information for all users.

19. The real-scene tour simulation system according to claim 18, wherein said group information includes group identification information used to identify which group said user belongs to, and each of said group identification information is different.

20. The real-scene tour simulation system according to claim 17, wherein said server comprises information for updating to or downloading from said tour location display system.

21. A real-scene tour simulation system that simulates real scenes interiorly to make a user feel like taking a real outdoor tour while performing an indoor activity, wherein a plurality of said real-scene tour simulation systems are connected by a communication connection, which enable the users of said plurality of real-scene tour simulation systems to take a tour together, said real-scene tour simulation system comprising:

a tour location display system for providing tour locations for said user to select from, wherein said user can select a tour location from said tour location display system to proceed said tour;

an input device with which said user inputs said tour location of selection;

an environment simulation system for generating an environment-like simulation effect and presenting said environment-like simulation effect to said user, as well as for obtaining said user'"'"'s video and audio information;

an activity system with which said user can perform activities on;

a control unit responding to environment parameters of said tour location being selected and said user'"'"'s video and audio information to generate a simulation result which simulates said user taking a real tour at said tour location, and to output said simulation result to said environment simulation system and said activity system and present to said user, wherein said user'"'"'s video and audio information is stacked onto said simulation result generated by said environment parameters of said tour location; and

an input/output port for receiving other users'"'"' video and audio information from said communication connection and for sending out said user'"'"'s video and audio information to said communication connection.

22. The real-scene tour simulation system according to claim 21, wherein said tour location display system is selected from the group consisting of geographic information system (GIS) and expert system.

23. The real-scene tour simulation system according to claim 21, wherein said simulation result includes at least one of the following simulation results associated with said tour location:

terrain;

atmospheric temperature;

sunshine intensity; and

environmental sound effect.

24. The real-scene tour simulation system according to claim 21, wherein said environment simulation system comprises at least one of the followings:

a display device;

an audio device;

an air conditioning device; and

a light source, for presenting said simulation result of said tour location to said user.

25. The real-scene tour simulation system according to claim 24, wherein said display device is selected from the group consisting of cathode ray tube (CRT) display system, liquid crystal display (LCD) system and plasma display system.

26. The real-scene tour simulation system according to claim 24, wherein said audio device is selected from the group consisting of twin-channel panning sound system, hi-fi stereo system and home theater 5.1D sound system.

27. The real-scene tour simulation system according to claim 24, wherein said environment simulation system further comprises a video and audio capturing system for obtaining said user'"'"'s video and audio information.

28. The real-scene tour simulation system according to claim 27, wherein said video and audio capturing system comprises a camera.

29. The real-scene tour simulation system according to claim 27, wherein said video and audio capturing system comprises a microphone.

30. The real-scene tour simulation system according to claim 21, wherein said activity system responding to said simulation result of said tour location, and thus presenting a terrain simulation result of said tour location to said user.

31. The real-scene tour simulation system according to claim 21, wherein said activity system comprises at least one of the followings:

an exercise equipment system and a video game system.

32. The real-scene tour simulation system according to claim 21, wherein said user'"'"'s video and audio information is presented on other environment simulation systems for other users traveling in a group.

33. The real-scene tour simulation system according to claim 32, wherein said user uses said input device to select said group to join in.

34. The real-scene tour simulation system according to claim 33, wherein when said user is not in any group, said user'"'"'s environment simulation system only presents said user'"'"'s video and audio information having stacked onto said simulation result generated by said environment parameters of said tour location.

35. The real-scene tour simulation system according to claim 32, wherein said user'"'"'s video and audio information is transferred to said other users traveling in said group via a communication connection, and is presented on said other environment simulation systems for said other users traveling in said group.

36. The real-scene tour simulation system according to claim 35, wherein said communication connection is connected with a server to transfer said user'"'"'s video and audio information to said other environment simulation systems for said other users traveling in said group.

37. The real-scene tour simulation system according to claim 36, wherein said server comprises a database for storing group information for all users.

38. The real-scene tour simulation system according to claim 37, wherein said group information includes a group identification information used to identify which group said user belongs to, and each of said group identification information is different.

39. The real-scene tour simulation system according to claim 36, wherein said server comprises information for updating to or downloading from said tour location display system.

40. The real-scene tour simulation system according to claim 35, wherein said communication connection is selected from the group consisting of LAN, WAN, Internet and Peer-To-Peer protocol.

41. A real-scene tour simulation method that simulates real scenes interiorly to make a user feel like taking a real outdoors tour, which comprising the following steps:

selecting a tour location on a tour location display system;

obtaining environment parameters of said tour location;

obtaining activity information from said user;

stacking said activity information onto an environment simulation result simulated based on said environment parameters to generate a real tour simulation result simulating said user taking said real outdoor tour at said tour location;

presenting said real tour simulation result to said user.

42. The real-scene tour simulation method according to claim 41, wherein said tour location display system is selected from the group consisting of geographic information system (GIS) and expert system.

43. The real-scene tour simulation method according to claim 41, wherein said real tour simulation result is presented to said user via an environment simulation system.

44. The real-scene tour simulation method according to claim 43, wherein said environment simulation system comprises at least one of the followings:

a display device;

an audio device;

an air conditioning device; and

a light source.

45. The real-scene tour simulation method according to claim 44, wherein said display device is selected from the group consisting of cathode ray tube (CRT) display system, liquid crystal display (LCD) system and plasma display system.

46. The real-scene tour simulation method according to claim 44, wherein said audio device is selected from the group consisting of twin-channel panning sound system, hi-fi stereo system and home theater 5.1D sound system.

47. The real-scene tour simulation method according to claim 41, further comprises an activity system for responding to the real tour simulation result of said tour location, and thus presenting a terrain simulation result of said tour location to said user.

48. The real-scene tour simulation method according to claim 47, wherein said activity system comprises at least one of the followings:

an exercise equipment system and a video game system.

49. The real-scene tour simulation method according to claim 41, wherein said activity information includes said user'"'"'s video and audio information.

50. The real-scene tour simulation method according to claim 41, wherein said environment simulation result includes at least one of the following simulation results associated with said tour location:

terrain;

atmospheric temperature;

sunshine intensity; and

environmental sound effect.

51. The real-scene tour simulation method according to claim 41 further comprises a step of obtaining an information of a group said user joined in before the step of obtaining said activity information.

52. The real-scene tour simulation method according to claim 51, wherein said activity information is presented to other users on other environment simulation systems within said group.

53. The real-scene tour simulation method according to claim 52, wherein when said user is not in any group, said environment simulation system of said user only presents said activity information having stacked onto said environment simulation result generated by said environment parameters of said tour location.

54. The real-scene tour simulation method according to claim 52, wherein said activity information is transferred via a communication connection.

55. The real-scene tour simulation method according to claim 54, wherein said communication connection is connected with a server to transfer said activity information to said other environment simulation systems for said other users traveling in said group.

56. The real-scene tour simulation method according to claim 55 further comprises a step of, after said activity information being transferred to said other users traveling in said group, presenting said activity information via said other environment simulation systems of said other users traveling in said group.

57. The real-scene tour simulation method according to claim 55, wherein said server comprises a database for storing group information for all users.

58. The real-scene tour simulation method according to claim 57, wherein said group information includes a group identification information used to identify which group said user belongs to, and each of said group identification information is different.

59. The real-scene tour simulation method according to claim 55, wherein said server comprises information for updating to or downloading from said tour location display system.

60. The real-scene tour simulation method according to claim 54, wherein said communication connection is selected from the group consisting of LAN, WAN, Internet and Peer-To-Peer protocol.

61. A real-scene tour simulation method that simulates real scenes interiorly to make a user feel like taking a real outdoor tour while performing an indoor activity, wherein a plurality of real-scene tour simulation systems are connected by a communication connection which enable the users of said plurality of real-scene tour simulation systems to take a tour together, said real-scene tour simulation method comprising the following steps:

selecting a tour location on a tour location display system;

obtaining environment parameters of said tour location;

obtaining an information of a group where said user joined in;

capturing said user'"'"'s video and audio information;

transferring said user'"'"'s video and audio information to other users traveling in said group via said communication connection;

stacking said user'"'"'s video and audio information and other users'"'"' video and audio information in said group onto an environment simulation result simulated based on said environment parameters to generate a real tour simulation result simulating said user taking a real tour at said tour location; and

presenting said real tour simulation result to said user.

62. The real-scene tour simulation method according to claim 61, wherein said tour location display system is selected from the group consisting of geographic information system (GIS) and expert system.

63. The real-scene tour simulation method according to claim 61, wherein said real tour simulation result is presented to said user via an environment simulation system.

64. The real-scene tour simulation method according to claim 63, wherein said environment simulation system comprises at least one of the followings:

a display device;

an audio device;

an air conditioning device; and

a light source.

65. The real-scene tour simulation method according to claim 64, wherein said display device is selected from the group consisting of cathode ray tube (CRT) display system, liquid crystal display (LCD) system and plasma display system.

66. The real-scene tour simulation method according to claim 64, wherein said audio device is selected from the group consisting of twin-channel panning sound system, hi-fi stereo system and home theater 5.1D sound system.

67. The real-scene tour simulation method according to claim 61, further comprises an activity system for responding to said real tour simulation result of said tour location, and thus presenting a terrain simulation result of said tour location to said user.

68. The real-scene tour simulation method according to claim 67, wherein said activity system comprises at least one of the followings:

an exercise equipment system and a video game system.

69. The real-scene tour simulation method according to claim 61, wherein said environment simulation result includes at least one of the following simulation results associated with said tour location:

terrain;

atmospheric temperature;

sunshine intensity; and

environmental sound effect.

70. The real-scene tour simulation method according to claim 61, wherein when said user is not in any group, said user'"'"'s environment simulation system only presents said user'"'"'s video and audio information having stacked onto said environment simulation result generated by said environment parameters of said tour location.

71. The real-scene tour simulation method according to claim 61, wherein said communication connection is connected with a server to transfer said user'"'"'s video and audio information to other environment simulation systems for other users traveling in said group.

72. The real-scene tour simulation method according to claim 71, wherein said server comprises a database for storing group information for all users.

73. The real-scene tour simulation method according to claim 72, wherein said group information includes a group identification information used to identify which group said user belongs to, and each of said group identification information is different.

74. The real-scene tour simulation method according to claim 71, wherein said server comprises information for updating to or downloading from said tour location display system.

75. The real-scene tour simulation method according to claim 61, wherein said communication connection is selected from the group consisting of LAN, the WAN, the Internet and the Peer-To-Peer.