Integration of External Input Into an Application

• US 20100026710A1
• Filed: 09/23/2008
• Published: 02/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ATI Technologies ULC (Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ATI Technologies ULC (Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.)
• Inventors: Selvanandan, Piranavan, Tippett, Matthew P., Roy, Surit
• Application Number:
  US12/236,189
• Publication Number:
  US 20100026710A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/619
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• 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 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/5255 according to dedicated instructions from a player, e.g. using a secondary joystick to rotate the camera around a player's character
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• 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: A63F 2300/6676 by dedicated player input
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/80 Analysis of captured images to determine intrinsic or extrinsic camera parameters, i.e. camera calibration

Abstract

Provided are systems, methods, and computer program products for integrating external input into an application, with little or no modification to the application. Such a system includes a graphics processing unit (GPU) and an interface module. The GPU is configured to execute graphics processing tasks for the application. The interface module is configured to (i) receive a camera view of the application and an input from an after-market device and (ii) generate an adjusted camera view based on the camera view of the application and the input from the after-market device. The adjusted camera view is then provided to a display device.

Claims

1. A method for integrating external input into an application, comprising:

(a) receiving a camera view of the application and an input from an after-market device;

(b) generating an adjusted camera view based on the camera view of the application and the input from the after-market device; and

(c) providing the adjusted camera view to a display device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein (a) comprises:

(a1) providing a library to receive the camera view of the application and to receive the input from the after-market device, wherein the library is linked to by the application.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein (a) comprises:

(a1) providing a library to receive the camera view of the application and to receive the input from the after-market device, wherein the library intercepts camera-related commands from the application to an application programming interface.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein (a) comprises:

(a1) providing a library to receive the camera view of the application and to receive the input from the after-market device, wherein the library is included within an application programming interface.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein (a) comprises:

(a1) providing a driver to receive the camera view of the application and to receive the input from the after-market device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the after-market device comprises a light sensor that is configured to sense a light level of an external environment, and wherein (b) comprises:

adjusting a light level of the adjusted camera view based on the light level of the external environment as sensed by the light sensor.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the after-market device comprises a head-tracking device configured to track a position of a user'"'"'s head, and wherein (b) comprises:

adjusting a view perspective of the adjusted camera view based on the position of the user'"'"'s head as tracked by the head-tracking device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the after-market device comprises a tilt sensor configured to sense a tilt of the tilt sensor with respect to a reference plane, and wherein (b) comprises:

adjusting a perspective of the adjusted camera view based on the tilt as sensed by the tilt sensor.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the after-market device comprises a distance sensor configured to sense a distance between the tilt sensor and a reference point, and wherein (b) comprises:

adjusting a level of detail of the adjusted camera view based on the distance as sensed by the distance sensor.

10. A computer-program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium having control logic stored therein for causing a computer to integrate external input into an application, the control logic comprising:

first computer-readable program code for causing the computer to receive a camera view of the application and an input from an after-market device;

second computer-readable program code for causing the computer to generate an adjusted camera view based on the camera view of the application and the input from the after-market device; and

third computer-readable program code for causing the computer to provide the adjusted camera view to a display device.

11. The computer-program product of claim 10, wherein the after-market device comprises a light sensor that is configured to sense a light level of an external environment, and wherein the second computer-readable program code comprises:

code for causing the computer to adjust a light level of the adjusted camera view based on the light level of the external environment as sensed by the light sensor.

12. The computer-program product of claim 10, wherein the after-market device comprises a head-tracking device configured to track a position of a user'"'"'s head, and wherein the second computer-readable program code comprises:

code for causing the computer to adjust a view perspective of the adjusted camera view based on the position of the user'"'"'s head as tracked by the head-tracking device.

13. The computer-program product of claim 10, wherein the after-market device comprises a tilt sensor configured to sense a tilt of the tilt sensor with respect to a reference plane, and wherein the second computer-readable program code comprises:

code for causing the computer to adjust a perspective of the adjusted camera view based on the tilt as sensed by the tilt sensor.

14. The computer-program product of claim 10, wherein the after-market device comprises a distance sensor configured to sense a distance between the distance sensor and a reference point, and wherein the second computer-readable program code comprises:

code for causing the computer to adjust a level of detail of the adjusted camera view based on the distance as sensed by the distance sensor.

15. A system for integrating external input into an application, comprising:

a graphics processing unit (GPU) configured to execute graphics processing tasks for the application; and

an interface module configured to (i) receive a camera view of the application and an input from an after-market device and (ii) generate an adjusted camera view based on the camera view of the application and the input from the after-market device.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the interface module comprises a library to which the application links.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the interface module comprises a library that is configured to intercept camera-related commands from the application to an application programming interface.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the interface module comprises a library included within an application programming interface.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the interface module is included within a driver.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the after-market device comprises a light sensor that is configured to sense a light level of an external environment.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein the after-market device comprises a head-tracking device configured to track a position of a user'"'"'s head.

22. The system of claim 15, wherein the after-market device comprises a tilt sensor configured to sense a tilt of the tilt sensor with respect to a reference plane.

23. The system of claim 15, wherein the after-market device comprises a distance sensor configured to sense a distance between the tilt sensor and a reference point.