Image integration with replaceable content

• US 20080085766A1
• Filed: 11/01/2007
• Published: 04/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/1992
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Bassilic Technologies LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Sitrick, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,867,086 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/31
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• 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 13/655 by importing photos, e.g. of the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/203 Image generating hardware
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/207 for accessing game resources from local storage, e.g. streaming content from DVD
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5553 user representation in the game field, e.g. avatar
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/695 Imported photos, e.g. of the player
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/16 for preventing non-intended contact between spray heads or nozzles and foreign bodies, e.g. nozzle guards
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/272 Means for inserting a foreground image in a background image, i.e. inlay, outlay

Abstract

A video game adapter interface apparatus has a user input device and an associated video display. The user selects a distinguishable visual image representation for association into a video game'"'"'s audiovisual presentation, such as where that user is identified. For example, color, size graphics or shape can be used to distinguish users. In one embodiment a digitized image of each user'"'"'s face is used as the distinguishable representation. Alternatively, the user can create an original image or select one of a predetermined set of visual images as the user'"'"'s identification for use in the video game audiovisual presentation. In a preferred video game embodiment, the video game adapter interface system is coupled to a video game system and a storage card containing User Images. The video game adapter interface system then integrates a selected User Image from the Storage Card into the video game'"'"'s audiovisual presentation, and can also integrate the User Image into the video game play. For non-User Image video game software and for non-video game and audiovisual presentations, an Intercept Adapter Interface Systems permits the integration of User Images into the audiovisual presentation in place of and/or in addition to predefined character images otherwise present in the audiovisual presentation.

Claims

1. An image integration method, the method comprising:

providing a user input signal responsive to a user input apparatus;

storing predefined image content for use in generating a presentation output;

storing replaceable image content;

linking the replaceable image content with at least some of the predefined image content for integration into the presentation output, responsive to the user input signal,

integrating the at least some of the predefined image content with at least some part of the replaceable image content, into the presentation output, responsive to the linking; and

,

providing a display presentation responsive to the presentation output.

2. The method as in claim 1, further comprising:

providing a plurality of selectable images;

providing user-selection responsive to the input apparatus, of a selected one of the plurality of selectable images; and

integrating a representation of the selected one of the plurality of selectable images into the presentation output, responsive to the user-selection.

3. The method as in claim 1, wherein the replaceable image content is a representation for a respective user;

and

wherein the representation for the respective user is one of;

an audio sound, a voice sound, a visual video display, a digitized picture of the user, an avatar for the user, a recognizable object, a user-created sound, a user-created visual image, a third-party famous person voice, a third-party famous person visual appearance, a still video image, a graphic image, a photographic image, an image representative of a recognizable object, an image representative of a recognizable living being, a facial view of a person;

a facial view of a character;

still image visuals;

a created vehicle;

a spacecraft;

a car;

a hero;

a villain;

a monster;

a weapon;

a pre-selected character function;

recognizable icons;

sub-image-identifier segments;

a third-party-supplied visual image;

a third-party-supplied audio image;

clip-art, a still picture, a recognizable visual image of a third person, a recognizable sound image of a third person, a texture map, a representation of a user image, a geometric model, and a motion video clip.

4. The method as in claim 2, wherein said selected one of the plurality of selectable images is associated with an avatar associated with a display presentation of a respective user.

5. The method as in claim 1, wherein the display presentation is representative of a networked community of a plurality of users interacting in a shared world environment.

6. The method as in claim 1, further comprising:

downloading additional image content;

mapping and linking the additional image content with the replaceable image content, to provide integration of the additional image content with at least some of the predefined image content, wherein the additional image content appears within the display presentation.

7. A video system, the system comprising:

a computing subsystem;

storage for storing predefined image content and variable image content, wherein at least part of the predefined image content and variable image content are utilized in generating a display presentation;

a user input apparatus providing a user input signal responsive to a user;

image integration logic for linking the variable image content with at least some of the predefined image content;

wherein the computing subsystem generates the display presentation comprised of at least some of the predefined image content and of at least in part of the variable image content, responsive to the image integration logic.

8. The system as in claim 7, the system further comprising:

a communications interface for downloading additional content to be used to replace at least part of the variable image content.

9. The system as in claim 7, wherein the additional image content is associated with generating a display presentation representative of at least one of:

an audio sound, a voice sound, a visual video display, a digitized picture of the user, a recognizable object, a user-created sound, a user-created visual image, a third-party famous person voice, a third-party famous person visual appearance, an avatar associated with a display presentation of a respective user, a facial view of a person;

a facial view of a character;

still image visuals;

a created vehicle;

a spacecraft;

a car;

a hero;

a villain;

a monster;

a weapon;

a pre-selected character function;

recognizable icons;

sub-image-identifier segments;

a third-party-supplied visual image;

a third-party-supplied audio image;

clip-art;

a still picture;

a recognizable visual image of a third person;

a recognizable sound of a third person;

a texture map;

a representation of a user image;

a geometric model;

a geometric mesh;

a motion video clip;

a keyframe;

morphing coordinate points;

geometric constraint information;

calorimetric information; and

substitute game character images.

11. The system as in claim 9, wherein at least a part of the replacement image data is provided via downloading and is stored in the writable memory.

10. A system for generating a display presentation, the system comprising:

a computing subsystem comprising a processor, storage memory, and a writable memory;

wherein the storage memory provides for storing an application software program and primary image data;

wherein the writable memory provides for local storage of replacement image data, and a respective mappable link for use in mapping the replacement image data into the display presentation;

wherein the application software program provides both an executable program and predefined audiovisual data for use in generation of the display presentation; and

wherein the application software program, operating on the computing subsystem, generates the display presentation as an audiovisual presentation, responsive to at least a portion of the predefined audiovisual data, and selectively responsive to the replacement image data in the writable memory, responsive to the respective mappable link.

12. The system as in claim 10, wherein the replacement image data is comprised of a plurality of image data packets each having an associated mappable link;

wherein each of the image data packets is for a separate recognizable presentation comprising at least one of an audio portion of the display presentation, a visual portion of the display presentation, and an audiovisual portion of the display presentation;

the system further comprising;

an input apparatus providing selection of a selected one of the image data packets and its associated mappable link for image integration; and

wherein the application software program operating on the computing subsystem provides generation of the display presentation responsive to image integration of the selected one of the image data packets with at least some of the predefined audiovisual data, to generate the display presentation, responsive to the respective associated mappable link for the selected one of the image data packets.

13. The system as in claim 10, comprising:

at least one of a video game system, a computer video amusement system, a video game development system, a movie development system, a movie presentation system, a personal computing system, a portable video-game system, a part of an on-line gaming network, a part of an on-line virtual community, and a part of an on-line interactive learning network.

14. A video game system, the system comprising:

a computing subsystem comprising a processor, an input apparatus providing a user input, a display apparatus, and storage memory comprised of a first memory portion and a second memory portion, wherein the first memory portion provides storing of an application software program providing game rules logic, wherein the second memory portion provides storing of presentation image data,

a user input;

wherein the processor provides a display presentation of a video game on the display apparatus responsive to the application software program, the presentation image data and the user input;

wherein the game rules logic, at least in part responsive to the user input, selects portions of the presentation image data to selectively utilize in generation of the display presentation.

15. The system as in claim 14,

wherein the game rules logic provides predefined function mapping logic,

wherein the presentation image data is comprised of predefined image data and replaceable predefined image data,

wherein the processor selectively provides integration of portions of the predefined image data and portions of the replaceable predefined image data, in the generation of the display presentation, responsive to the predefined function mapping logic.

16. The system as in claim 14,

wherein the replaceable predefined image data is utilized for generating a display presentation representative of at least one of:

an audio sound, a voice sound, a visual video display, a digitized picture of the user, a recognizable object, a user-created sound, a user-created visual image, a third-party famous person voice, a third-party famous person visual appearance, an avatar associated with a display presentation of a respective user, a facial view of a person;

a facial view of a character;

still image visuals;

a created vehicle;

a spacecraft;

a car;

a hero;

a villain;

a monster;

a weapon;

a pre-selected character function;

recognizable icons;

sub-image-identifier segments;

a third-party-supplied visual image;

a third-party-supplied audio image;

clip-art;

a still picture;

a recognizable visual image of a third person;

a recognizable sound of a third person;

a texture map;

a representation of a user image;

a geometric model;

a geometric mesh;

a motion video clip;

a keyframe;

morphing coordinate points;

geometric constraint information;

colorimetric information; and

substitute game character images.

17. The system as in claim 14,

wherein the presentation image data is comprised of predefined video graphic objects and user-defined video graphic objects, utilized in the generation of the display presentation;

and

wherein the game rules logic, responsive to the user input, utilizes at least parts of both the predetermined video graphic objects and the user-defined video graphic objects to generate the video display presentation.

18. The system as in claim 14, further comprising:

a communications interface providing downloading of additional content that is stored in the storage memory,

wherein the application software program provides integration logic for linking at least a portion of the additional content with at least a portion of the replaceable predefined image content; and

,

wherein the processor selectively provides integration of portions of the predefined image data and said at least a portion of the additional content responsive to the integration logic, to provide the generation of the display presentation.

19. The system as in claim 14,

wherein the additional content is utilized for generating a display presentation representative of at least one of:

an audio sound, a voice sound, a visual video display, a digitized picture of the user, a recognizable object, a user-created sound, a user-created visual image, a third-party famous person voice, a third-party famous person visual appearance, an avatar associated with a display presentation of a respective user, a facial view of a person;

a facial view of a character;

still image visuals;

a created vehicle;

a spacecraft;

a car;

a hero;

a villain;

a monster;

a weapon;

a pre-selected character function;

recognizable icons;

sub-image-identifier segments;

a third-party-supplied visual image;

a third-party-supplied audio image;

clip-art;

a still picture;

a recognizable visual image of a third person;

a recognizable sound of a third person;

a texture map;

a representation of a user image;

a geometric model;

a geometric mesh;

a motion video clip;

a keyframe;

morphing coordinate points;

geometric constraint information;

colorimetric information; and

substitute game character images.

20. The system as in claim 15, wherein the predefined function mapping logic provides mapping and linking of the user-defined video graphic objects to provide integration of the user-defined video graphic objects with the predetermined video graphic objects, wherein the user-defined video graphic objects appear within the display presentation.