METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING GROUP MUSICAL INTERACTION OVER A NETWORK

• US 20080113698A1
• Filed: 11/15/2006
• Published: 05/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harmonix Music Systems Incorporated (Epic Games, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Harmonix Music Systems Incorporated (Epic Games, Inc.)
• Inventors: Egozy, Eran
• Granted Patent: US 8,079,907 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/7
• 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 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• 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 13/358 Adapting the game course according to the network or server load, e.g. for reducing latency due to different connection speeds between clients
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/44 involving timing of operations, e.g. performing an action within a time slot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/5375 for graphically or textually suggesting an action, e.g. by displaying an arrow indicating a turn in a driving game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/54 involving acoustic signals, e.g. for simulating revolutions per minute [RPM] dependent engine sounds in a driving game or reverberation against a virtual wall
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/814 Musical performances, e.g. by evaluating the player's ability to follow a notation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/303 for displaying additional data, e.g. simulating a Head Up Display
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/305 for providing a graphical or textual hint to the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/534 for network load management, e.g. bandwidth optimization, latency reduction
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/638 according to the timing of operation or a time limit
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8047 Music games

Abstract

A method for providing real-time musical interaction among a plurality of players connected via a network includes the steps of receiving input from a local player representing a musical performance, generating audio output responsive to the received input, receiving second music performance data from a remote player representing a musical performance by the remote player, creating emulation data representing the remote musical performance, and using the emulation data to generate a local approximation of the remote musical performance.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating a cooperative rhythm action game using saved music performance input data from a previous player performance, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving first music performance input data from a local player, the first music performance input data representing a first musical performance;

(b) generating audio output responsive to the received first music performance input;

4,

(c) receiving, via a network, second music performance input data the received second music performance input data comprising saved music performance input data from a previous musical performance;

(d) creating emulation data from the received second music performance input data; and

(e) generating a local approximation of the previous musical performance using the emulation data, the local approximation synchronous with the local musical performance.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein step (a) comprises receiving music performance input data from a local player using a gamepad.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein step (a) comprises receiving music performance input data from a local player using a simulated musical instrument.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein step (a) comprises receiving music performance input data from a local player using a simulated guitar.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein step (a) comprises receiving music performance input data from a local player using a simulated drum.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein step (a) comprises receiving music performance input data from a local player using a simulated musical keyboard.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein step (a) comprises receiving music performance input data from a local player using a simulated turntable.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein step (a) comprises receiving music performance input data from a local player using a simulated microphone.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) comprises playing a note to indicate a successful input.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) comprises playing a stream of audio to indicate a successful input.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) comprises playing an error tone to indicate unsuccessful input.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein step (c) comprises receiving second music performance input data, the received second music performance input data comprising saved music performance input data from a previous musical performance by a remote player.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein step (e) comprises playing a note to indicate a successful input.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein step (e) comprises playing a stream of audio to indicate a successful input.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein step (e) comprises playing an error tone to indicate unsuccessful input.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) comprises creating emulation data comprising a moving average of timing deltas between received second music performance events and expected timing of the second music performance events.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) comprises creating emulation data comprising a moving average of received second music performance events.

18. A method for facilitating a cooperative rhythm action game using saved music performance input data from a previous player performance, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving, via a network, music performance input data, the received music performance input data comprising saved music performance input data from a previous musical performance;

(b) creating emulation data from the received music performance input data; and

(c) generating a local approximation of the previous musical performance using the emulation data, the local approximation synchronous with a local musical performance.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein step (a) comprises receiving from an interim server music performance input data from a remote player, the received music performance input data representing a musical performance by the remote player.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein step (b) comprises creating emulation data comprising a moving average of timing deltas between received music performance events.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein step (b) comprises creating emulation data comprising a moving average of received music performance events.

22. A system for facilitating real-time interaction between players of a game comprising:

(a) means for receiving first music performance input data from a local player, the first music performance input data representing a first musical performance;

(b) means for generating audio output responsive to the received first music performance input;

(c) means for receiving, via a network, second music performance input data the received second music performance input data, comprising saved music performance input data from a previous musical performance;

(d) means for creating emulation data from the received second music performance input data; and

(e) means for generating a local approximation of the previous music performance using the emulation data, the local approximation synchronous with the local musical performance.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein said means for receiving first music performance input data comprises a simulated musical instrument.

24. The system of claim 22 wherein said means for receiving first music performance input data comprises a simulated guitar.

25. The system of claim 22 wherein said means for receiving first music performance input data comprises a simulated drum.

26. The system of claim 22 wherein said means for receiving first music performance input data comprises a simulated musical keyboard.

27. The system of claim 22 wherein said means for receiving first music performance input data comprises a simulated turntable.

28. The system of claim 22 wherein said means for receiving first music performance input data comprises a simulated microphone.

29. The system of claim 22 wherein said means for generating audio output plays a note to indicate a successful input.

30. The method of claim 22 wherein said means for generating audio output plays a stream of audio to indicate a successful input.

31. The system of claim 22 wherein said means for generating audio output plays an error tone to indicate unsuccessful input.