Interactive game method and interactive game system with alarm function

• US 20080194330A1
• Filed: 10/01/2007
• Published: 08/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: PixArt Imaging Incorporated
• Original Assignee: PixArt Imaging Incorporated
• Inventors: Kuo, Ming-Hui, Lin, Cho-Yi
• Application Number:
  US11/904,807
• Publication Number:
  US 20080194330A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/39
• 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 13/22 Setup operations, e.g. calibration, key configuration or button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/49 Saving the game status; Pausing or ending the game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/52 involving aspects of the displayed game scene
• 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 13/812 Ball games, e.g. soccer or baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/833 Hand-to-hand fighting, e.g. martial arts competition A63F13/837 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1018 Calibration; Key and button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/305 for providing a graphical or textual hint to the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/554 by saving game or status data
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6081 generating an output signal, e.g. under timing constraints, for spatialization
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/66 for rendering three dimensional images
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8011 Ball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8029 Fighting without shooting

Abstract

The present invention discloses an interactive game system with alarm function, comprising: at least one remote pointing device; and a set-up box which detects the location of the remote pointing device and generating game information according to movement of the remote pointing device, wherein the remote pointing device includes a distance detection device for detecting a distance between the remote pointing device and a nearby object, and when the detected distance is smaller than a predetermined safety threshold, the interactive game system triggers a safety mechanism.

Claims

1. An interactive game system with alarm function, comprising:

at least one remote pointing device; and

a set-up box which detects the location of the remote pointing device and generating game information according to movement of the remote pointing device,

wherein when a distance between the location of the remote pointing device and a predetermined location is smaller than a predetermined safety threshold, the interactive game system triggers a safety mechanism.

2. The interactive game system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined location includes one or more of the following:

the location where the set-up box is, the location where a receiver of the set-up box is, the location of a known object, and the location of another remote pointing device.

3. The interactive game system according to claim 1, wherein the safety threshold is equal to [(the length of the remote pointing device plus the average length of the arm of an adult) multiplied by a safety factor].

4. The interactive game system according to claim 1, wherein the interactive game system displays graphic information on a screen, and the safety mechanism includes one or more of the following:

displaying a warning symbol on the screen;

displaying a warning sentence on the screen;

generating an audible sound of alarm;

generating an audible sound of a comprehensive language;

shutting down the screen;

stopping the game; and

leading the user to move towards a safer area in an interactive way.

5. The interactive game system according to claim 1, comprising at least two remote pointing devices, and wherein when the distance between the locations of the two remote pointing devices is smaller than twice the safety threshold, the interactive game system triggers a safety mechanism.

6. An interactive game system with alarm function, comprising:

at least one remote pointing device; and

a set-up box which detects the location of the remote pointing device and generating game information according to movement of the remote pointing device,

wherein the remote pointing device includes a distance detection device for detecting a distance between the remote pointing device and a nearby object, and when the detected distance is smaller than a predetermined safety threshold, the interactive game system triggers a safety mechanism.

7. The interactive game system according to claim 6, wherein the distance detection device includes a transmitter, a receiver, and a processor, the processor calculates the distance according to a time between when a signal is transmitted from the transmitter and when the signal is received by the receiver.

8. The interactive game system according to claim 7, wherein the transmitter transmits the signal toward a limited angular range so as not to cover an area where a user of the interactive game system is.

9. The interactive game system according to claim 6, wherein the safety threshold is equal to [(the length of the remote pointing device plus the average length of the arm of an adult) multiplied by a safety factor].

10. The interactive game system according to claim 6, wherein the interactive game system displays graphic information on a screen, and the safety mechanism includes one or more of the following:

displaying a warning symbol on the screen;

displaying a warning sentence on the screen;

generating an audible sound of alarm;

generating an audible sound of a comprehensive language;

shutting down the screen;

stopping the game; and

leading the user to move towards a safer area in an interactive way.

11. The interactive game system according to claim 6, comprising at least two remote pointing devices, and wherein when the distance between the locations of the two remote pointing devices is smaller than twice the safety threshold, the interactive game system triggers a safety mechanism.

12. An interactive game method with alarm function, comprising:

providing at least one remote pointing device;

calculating the location of the remote pointing device; and

when a distance between the location of the remote pointing device and a predetermined location is smaller than a predetermined safety threshold, triggering a safety mechanism.

13. The interactive game method according to claim 12, further comprising:

providing a set-up box including a receiver for receiving information from the remote pointing device to calculate the location of the remote pointing device, and wherein the predetermined location includes one or more of the following;

the location where the set-up box is, the location where the receiver of the set-up box is, the location of a known object, and the location of another remote pointing device.

14. The interactive game method according to claim 12, further comprising:

displaying graphic information on a screen according to information from the remote pointing device, and the safety mechanism includes one or more of the following;

displaying a warning symbol on the screen;

displaying a warning sentence on the screen;

generating an audible sound of alarm;

generating an audible sound of a comprehensive language;

shutting down the screen;

stopping the game; and

leading the user to move towards a safer area in an interactive way.

15. The interactive game method according to claim 12, further comprising:

when two or more remote pointing devices are used, triggering the safety mechanism when the distance between the locations of the two remote pointing devices is smaller than twice the safety threshold.

16. An interactive game method with alarm function, comprising:

providing at least one remote pointing device;

detecting a distance between the remote pointing device and a nearby object; and

when the detected distance is smaller than a predetermined safety threshold, triggering a safety mechanism.

17. The interactive game method according to claim 16, wherein the distance detection step includes:

transmitting a signal by the remote pointing device;

receiving the signal; and

determining the distance according to the time between when the signal is transmitted and when the signal is received

18. The interactive game method according to claim 17, wherein the remote pointing device transmits the signal toward a limited angular range so as not to cover an area where a user of the remote pointing device is.

19. The interactive game method according to claim 16, further comprising:

displaying graphic information on a screen according to information from the remote pointing device, and the safety mechanism includes one or more of the following;

displaying a warning symbol on the screen;

displaying a warning sentence on the screen;

generating an audible sound of alarm;

generating an audible sound of a comprehensive language;

shutting down the screen;

stopping the game; and

leading the user to move towards a safer area in an interactive way.

20. The interactive game method according to claim 16, further comprising:

when two or more remote pointing devices are used, triggering the safety mechanism when the distance between the locations of the two remote pointing devices is smaller than twice the safety threshold.