Interactivity via mobile image recognition

• US 20070104348A1
• Filed: 08/25/2006
• Published: 05/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nant Holdings IP, LLC (NantWorks, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Evryx Technologies Inc (Ipplex Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Cohen, Ronald
• Granted Patent: US 8,130,242 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/100
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• 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 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/355 Performing operations on behalf of clients with restricted processing capabilities, e.g. servers transform changing game scene into an encoded video stream for transmitting to a mobile phone or a thin client
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/538 for performing operations on behalf of the game client, e.g. rendering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47815 Electronic shopping payment schemes, payment architectures or payment protocols for electronic shopping systems G06Q20/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Systems and methods of interacting with a virtual space, in which a mobile device is used to electronically capture image data of a real-world object, the image data is used to identify information related to the real-world object, and the information is used to interact with software to control at least one of: (a) an aspect of an electronic game; and (b) a second device local to the mobile device. Contemplated systems and methods can be used to gaming, in which the image data can be used to identify a name of the real-world object, to classify the real-world object, identify the real-world object as a player in the game, to identify the real-world object as a goal object or as having some other value in the game, to use the image data to identify the real-world object as a goal object in the game.

Claims

1. A method of interacting with a virtual space, comprising:

using a mobile device to electronically capture image data of a real-world object;

using the image data to identify information related to the real-world object; and

using the information to interact with software being operated at least in part externally to the mobile device, to control at least one of;

(a) an aspect of an electronic game; and

(b) a second device local to the mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of using the mobile device to electronically capture image data comprises capturing a still image.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of using the mobile device to electronically capture image data comprises capturing a video image.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of using the image data to identify information comprises using the image data to identify a name of the real-world object.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of using the image data to identify information comprises using the image data to classify the real-world object.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of using the image data to identify information comprises using the image data to identify the real-world object as a player in the game.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of using the image data to identify information comprises using the image data to identify the real-world object as having a value in the game.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of using the image data to identify information comprises using the image data to identify the real-world object as a goal object in the game.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of using the image data to identify information comprises using the image data to ascertain an environmental characteristic nearby the mobile device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the software accommodates at least three concurrent users who may interact with another of the users.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the software accommodates at least five concurrent users who may interact with another of the users.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the aspect of the electronic game comprises providing an input to the game.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the input comprises data relating to use of a virtual weapon.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the input comprises data relating to virtual playing of music.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the input comprises data relating to virtual traveling.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein control of the second device comprises changing a channel.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising using a designator or a physical location of the mobile device to interact with the software.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the designator or physical location comprises a geographic coordinate.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising using at least one of orientation and acceleration of the mobile device to interact with the software.