Sequencing input control stick

• US 20040233199A1
• Filed: 05/20/2003
• Published: 11/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electronic Arts Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Electronic Arts Incorporated
• Inventors: Bollo, David, Batty, Todd
• Granted Patent: US 7,109,994 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/473
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• 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 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/63 for controlling the execution of the game in time

Abstract

A method of controlling an animation character with a controller that includes determining a position of the controller and determining a current state of the animation character. A history of positions of the controller is determined and compared with a set of history patterns based upon the current state of the animation character. An animation sequence is initiated based upon any matched history patterns.

Claims

1. A method of controlling an animation character with a controller, the method comprising:

determining a position of the controller;

determining a current state of the animation character;

determining a history of positions of the controller;

comparing the history of positions with a set of history patterns based upon the current state of the game character; and

initiating an animation sequence based upon any matched history patterns.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the animation sequence is initiated based upon a first matched history pattern.

3. A method in accordance with claim 2 wherein the history of positions is compared with the set of history patterns in a predetermined order.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising determining an amount of time the controller spent in each position for the history of positions and including the amount of time in the comparison.

5. A method in accordance with claim 4 wherein the amount of time is categorized as one of either long or short.

6. A method in accordance with claim 5 wherein long is defined as greater than or equal to one second.

7. A method in accordance with claim 5 wherein short is defined as less than or equal to one second.

8. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein positions are classified within one of five zones.

9. A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein the controller comprises a control stick and the zones are classified as up, down, left, right and center.

10. A method in accordance with claim 8 further comprising applying hysteresis to edges along the zones such that if the controller was previously in a first zone and is now along an edge of the first zone and a second zone, the controller is still deemed to be within the first zone even if it is actually in the second zone or directly on the edge.

11. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein if no history pattern is matched, then control of the animation character is automatically handled by a central controller.

12. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the animation sequence comprises a sequence of moves.

13. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the animation sequence comprises a single move.

14. A system for executing animation sequences, the apparatus comprising:

a central controller;

a display communicatively coupled to the central controller;

at least one controller communicatively coupled to the central controller;

storage within the central controller for storing a history of positions of the at least one controller;

storage within the central controller for storing a set of history patterns based upon possible states of an animation character; and

processing means within the central controller for comparing the history of positions with the set of history patterns and determining a state for the animation character based upon a current state of the animation character and any matched history patterns.

15. A system in accordance with claim 14 wherein the controller comprises an analog controller.

16. A system in accordance with claim 14 wherein the controller comprises a digital controller.

17. A system in accordance with claim 14 wherein the controller comprises an analog and a digital controller.

18. A method of controlling an animation character with an analog controller, the method comprising:

determining a position of the analog controller, wherein positions are classified within one of five zones;

determining a current state of the animation character;

determining a history of positions of the analog controller that led to the current state of the animation character;

determining an amount of time the analog controller spent in each position for the history of positions and including the amount of time in the history of positions;

comparing the history of positions and times with a set of history patterns based upon the current state of the game character; and

initiating an animation sequence based upon any matched history patterns.

19. A method in accordance with claim 18 wherein the animation sequence is initiated based upon a first matched history pattern.

20. A method in accordance with claim 19 wherein the history of positions is compared with the set of history patterns in a predetermined order.

21. A method in accordance with claim 18 wherein the amount of time is categorized as one of either long or short.

22. A method in accordance with claim 21 wherein long is defined as greater than or equal to one second.

23. A method in accordance with claim 22 wherein short is defined as less than or equal to one second.

24. A method in accordance with claim 23 wherein the analog controller comprises a control stick and the zones are classified as up, down, left, right and center.

25. A method in accordance with claim 24 further comprising applying hysteresis to edges along the zones such that if the analog controller was previously in a first zone and is now along an edge of the first zone and a second zone, the analog controller is still deemed to be within the first zone even if it is actually in the second zone.

26. A method in accordance with claim 18 wherein if no history pattern is matched, then control of the animation character is automatically handled by a central controller.

27. A method in accordance with claim 18 wherein the animation sequence comprises a sequence of moves.

28. A method in accordance with claim 18 wherein the animation sequence comprises a single move.