Interactive gaming apparel for interactive gaming

• US 20040087366A1
• Filed: 10/30/2002
• Published: 05/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Meschter, James, Foxen, Thomas, Shum, Albert
• Granted Patent: US 8,206,219 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/36
• 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 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/40 Processing input control signals of video game devices, e.g. signals generated by the player or derived from the environment
• 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 13/428 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 2300/1093 using visible light
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/609 for unlocking hidden game elements, e.g. features, items, levels

Abstract

Apparel is disclosed that can be worn to assist an interactive game in tracking the movement of the wearer. More particularly, the apparel may include one or more tracking marks formed of designs, patterns, or reflective materials that can be easily tracked by an interactive game employing one or more cameras or other detectors for detecting a change in position of an object. The apparel may take the form of, for example, hats, shirts, jackets, pants, gloves, and shoes. By providing tracking marks on apparel, rather than using a special-purpose device that must be separately worn, a player may enjoy a more natural feel when playing the interactive game. Further, the player need not don any special equipment to play the game. Instead, a user can wear the apparel for everyday purposes, and then simply begin playing the game wearing the apparel without having to put on any additional equipment. The apparel may use reflective materials, and the interactive game can employ a camera and a light source configuration where the camera is located within the observation angle of a player employing retroreflective materials reflecting light from the light source.

Claims

1. A method of providing an article of wear for use with an interactive computer game, comprising:

analyzing the interactive game to determine at least one type of tracking mark recognized by the interactive game;

producing an article of wear displaying one or more tracking marks of the type determined from analyzing the interactive game.

2. The method of providing an article of wear recited in claim 1, further comprising:

providing the article of wear displaying one or more tracking marks to a player of the interactive computer game.

3. The method of providing an article of wear recited in claim 1, wherein producing the article of wear includes

knitting or weaving at least one of the one or more tracking marks into a material, and

manufacturing the article of wear with the material.

4. The method of providing an article of wear recited in claim 1, wherein producing the article of wear displaying the one or more tracking marks includes

manufacturing the article of wear, and

applying at least one of the one or more tracking marks to the manufactured article of wear.

5. The method of providing an article of wear recited in claim 1, further including applying the at least one of the one or more tracking marks to the manufactured article of wear by a technique from the group consisting of:

silk screening, pad printing, heat transfer, die sublimation, dying, stitching, adhering with an adhesive, impregnation, etching, etching, stapling and riveting.

6. The method of providing an article of wear recited in claim 1, wherein the article of wear is selected from the group consisting of:

footwear, a shirt, pants, a jacket, shorts, socks, a hat, and a band.

7. The method of providing an article of wear recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more tracking marks has a color that can be recognized by the interactive game.

8. The method of providing an article of wear recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more tracking marks has a shape that can be recognized by the interactive game.

9. The method of providing an article of wear recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more tracking marks has a reflectivity that can be recognized by the interactive game.

10. A method of playing an interactive computer game, comprising:

donning an article of wear, the article of wear displaying one or more tracking marks that can be recognized by the interactive game; and

playing the interactive game by wearing the article of wear so that the interactive game recognizes at least one of the one or more tracking marks displayed by the article of wear.

11. The method of playing an interactive computer game recited in claim 10, wherein playing the interactive game includes moving toward or away from the interactive computer game, such that the interactive computer game can determine the movement toward or away from the interactive computer game by recognizing a change in position of at least one of the one or more tracking marks.

12. The method of playing an interactive computer game recited in claim 10, wherein playing the interactive game includes moving an extremity of the article of wear displaying at least one of the one or more tracking marks, such that the interactive computer game can determine the movement of the extremity by recognizing a change in position of at least one of the one or more tracking marks.

13. The method of playing an interactive computer game recited in claim 10, wherein playing the interactive game includes

recognizing qualitative information from at least one of the one or more tracking marks, and

changing an aspect of the game in response to recognizing the qualitative information from the at least one of the one or more tracking marks.

14. The method of playing an interactive computer game recited in claim 10, wherein at least one of the one or more tracking marks are woven or knitted into the article of wear.

15. The method of playing an interactive computer game recited in claim 10, wherein at least one of the one or more tracking marks is applied to the article of wear.

16. The method of playing an interactive computer game recited in claim 10, wherein the at least one of the one or more tracking marks is applied to the manufactured article of wear by a technique from the group consisting of:

silk screening, pad printing, heat transfer, die sublimation, dying, stitching, adhering with an adhesive, impregnation, etching, etching, stapling and riveting.

17. The method of playing an interactive computer game recited in claim 10, wherein the article of wear is selected from the group consisting of:

footwear, a shirt, pants, a jacket, shorts, socks, a hat, and a band.

18. The method of playing an interactive computer game recited in claim 10, wherein at least one of the one or more tracking marks has a color that can be recognized by the interactive game.

19. The method of playing an interactive computer game recited in claim 10, wherein at least one of the one or more tracking marks has a shape that can be recognized by the interactive game.

20. The method of playing an interactive computer game recited in claim 10, wherein at least one of the one or more tracking marks has a reflectivity that can be recognized by the interactive game.

21. A method of providing an interactive gaming experience, comprising:

recognizing a position of a tracking mark displayed on an article of wear at a first location;

recognizing a position of the tracking mark displayed on the article of wear at a second location; and

displaying a game action in response to a change in position of the tracking mark from the first location to the second location.

22. The method of providing an interactive gaming experience recited in claim 21, further including recognizing a position of the tracking mark by distinguishing a color of the tracking mark from one or more colors of the article of wear.

23. The method of providing an interactive gaming experience recited in claim 21, further including recognizing a position of the tracking mark by distinguishing a shape of the tracking mark.

24. The method of providing an interactive gaming experience recited in claim 21, further including recognizing a position of the tracking mark by distinguishing a reflectivity of the tracking mark from a reflectivity of the article of wear.

25. The method of providing an interactive gaming experience recited in claim 21, wherein the tracking mark is woven or knitted into the article of wear.

26. The method of providing an interactive gaming experience recited in claim 21, wherein the tracking mark is applied to the article of wear.

27. The method of providing an interactive gaming experience recited in claim 26, wherein the tracking mark is applied to the manufactured article of wear by a technique from the group consisting of:

silk screening, pad printing, heat transfer, die sublimation, dying, stitching, adhering with an adhesive, impregnation, etching, etching, stapling and riveting.

28. The method of providing an interactive gaming experience recited in claim 21, wherein the article of wear is selected from the group consisting of:

footwear, a shirt, pants, a jacket, shorts, socks, a hat, and a band.

29. The method of providing an interactive gaming experience recited in claim 21, further comprising:

recognizing qualitative information from the tracking mark, and

changing an aspect of the game in response to recognizing the qualitative information from the tracking mark.

30. A piece of apparel for use with an interactive computer game, comprising:

an article of wear; and

at least one tracking mark displayed on the article of wear, the at least one tracking mark being positioned so as to be recognizable by an interactive computer game.

31. The piece of apparel recited in claim 30, wherein the at least one tracking mark can be recognized by the interactive computer game based upon a color of the tracking mark.

32. The piece of apparel recited in claim 30, wherein the at least one tracking mark can be recognized by the interactive computer game based upon a shape of the tracking mark.

33. The piece of apparel recited in claim 30, wherein the at least one tracking mark can be recognized by the interactive computer based upon a reflectivity of the tracking mark.

34. The piece of apparel recited in claim 30, wherein the at least one tracking mark is woven or knitted into the article of wear.

35. The piece of apparel recited in claim 30, wherein the at least one tracking mark is applied to the article of wear.

36. The method of providing an interactive gaming experience recited in claim 35, wherein the tracking mark is applied to the article of wear by a technique selected from the group consisting of:

silk screening, pad printing, heat transfer, die sublimation, dying, stitching, adhering with an adhesive, impregnation, etching, etching, stapling and riveting.

37. The piece of apparel recited in claim 30, wherein the article of wear is selected from the group consisting of:

footwear, a shirt, pants, a jacket, shorts, socks, a hat, and a band.

38. The piece of apparel recited in claim 30, wherein

the article of wear is a shirt;

and

the at least one tracking mark includes

a first tracking mark located proximal to a first cuff of the shirt, and

a second tracking mark located proximal to a second cuff of the shirt.

39. The piece of apparel recited in claim 38, wherein the at least one tracking mark includes a third tracking mark located in a chest region of the shirt.

40. The piece of apparel recited in claim 30, wherein the at least one tracking mark is formed of a retroreflective material.

41. The piece of apparel recited in claim 40, wherein the retroreflective material is overlaid with a translucent colored film.

42. An interactive game, comprising:

a camera for imaging a tracking mark formed of retroreflective material within a playing area;

a image processor for tracking changes in a position of the tracking mark using images obtained from the camera; and

a light positioned within an observation angle of the camera.

43. The interactive game recited in claim 42, wherein the light forms at least a portion of a ring about a lens of the camera.

44. The interactive game recited in claim 42, wherein the light is positioned on a mount for the camera.