Sprite interface and code-based functions

• US 20070115288A1
• Filed: 11/22/2005
• Published: 05/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Barrett, Peter, Cronin, Dennis
• Application Number:
  US11/285,220
• Publication Number:
  US 20070115288A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/473
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/203 Image generating hardware
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/209 characterized by low level software layer, relating to hardware management, e.g. Operating System, Application Programming Interface
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 13/80 2D [Two Dimensional] animation, e.g. using sprites
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4781 Games

Abstract

Sprite interface and code-based functions is described. In an embodiment, a sprite interface is implemented in managed code to provide an interface to sprite animation functions for a gaming application. A sprite application is implemented in native code to provide the sprite animation functions via the sprite interface when initiated by the gaming application. The gaming application, sprite interface, and the sprite application can be implemented in a low-end computing-based device, such as a television-based client device.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a sprite interface configured to provide an interface to sprite animation functions for a gaming application; and

a sprite application implemented in native code and configured to provide the sprite animation functions via the sprite interface when initiated by the gaming application.

2. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the sprite interface is a managed sprite interface implemented in managed code.

3. A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a television-based client device configured to execute the gaming application, the sprite interface, and the sprite application.

4. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the sprite application is further configured to provide collision detection of sprite images to the gaming application via the sprite interface.

5. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the sprite application is further configured to provide an animated sprite image to the gaming application via the sprite interface.

6. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the Sprite application is further configured to provide a tiled sprite image for a background image of the gaming application via the sprite interface.

7. A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a tiler application implemented in the native code and configured to provide tiling functions via the sprite interface when initiated by the gaming application.

8. A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a tiler application implemented in the native code and configured to provide tiling functions for a background image of the gaming application via the sprite interface, and wherein the sprite application is further configured to provide an animated sprite image superimposed over a tiled sprite image to the gaming application via the sprite interface.

9. A method, comprising:

receiving a request for a sprite animation function from an application;

initiating the request for the sprite animation function via a sprite interface; and

providing the sprite animation function from a sprite application implemented in native code, the sprite animation function being provided to the application via the sprite interface.

10. A method as recited in claim 9, further comprising executing the application as a gaming application in a television-based client device.

11. A method as recited in claim 10, further comprising executing the sprite interface in managed code and executing the sprite application in the native code in the television-based client device.

12. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein providing the sprite animation function includes providing collision detection of sprite images to the application via the sprite interface.

13. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein providing the sprite animation function includes providing animation of a sprite image to the application via the sprite interface.

14. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein providing the sprite animation function includes providing a tiled sprite image for a background image of the application via the sprite interface.

15. A method as recited in claim 9, further comprising providing a tiling function with a tiler application implemented in the native code, the tiling function being provided to the application via the sprite interface.

16. One or more computer readable media comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct a television-based client device to:

execute a gaming application;

instantiate a sprite interface executed as managed code to receive a request for a sprite animation function from the gaming application; and

execute a sprite application as native code to provide the sprite animation function to the gaming application via the sprite interface.

17. One or more computer readable media as recited in claim 16, further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct the television-based client device to instantiate a tiler application executed as native code to provide a tiling function to the gaming application via the sprite interface.

18. One or more computer readable media as recited in claim 16, further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct the television-based client device to execute the sprite application to provide collision detection of sprite images to the gaming application via the sprite interface.

19. One or more computer readable media as recited in claim 16, further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct the television-based client device to execute the sprite application to provide an animated sprite image to the gaming application via the sprite interface.

20. One or more computer readable media as recited in claim 16, further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct the television-based client device to execute the sprite application to provide a tiled sprite image for a background image of the gaming application via the sprite interface.