System and method for providing a real-time interactive surface

• US 20100144413A1
• Filed: 12/04/2008
• Published: 06/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: Purvis, Christopher J., Ackley, Jonathan Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,092,287 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/69 Involving elements of the real world in the game world, e.g. measurement in live races, real video
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 25/00 Autocar-like self-drivers; Runways therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 33/00 Devices allowing competitions between several persons, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A63K 1/00 Race-courses; Race-tracks

Abstract

Disclosed are systems and methods for providing a real-time interactive surface. In one embodiment, such a system comprises an activity surface for use as a venue for an interactive experience, and an interactive experience control unit including an events management application. The events management application is configured to monitor and coordinate events occurring during the interactive experience. The system also comprises a surface rendering application interactively linked to the events management application, the surface rendering application configured to render a visual image for display at the activity surface in real-time, the visual image corresponding to one or more visual assets associated with a subset of the events occurring during the interactive experience. The system further comprises a surface display module interactively linked to the surface rendering application, the surface display module configured to display the rendered real-time visual image at the activity surface to provide the real-time interactive surface.

Claims

1. A system for providing a real-time interactive surface, the system comprising:

an activity surface for use as a venue for an interactive experience;

an interactive experience control unit including an events management application, the events management application configured to monitor and coordinate events occurring during the interactive experience;

a surface rendering application interactively linked to the events management application, the surface rendering application configured to render a visual image for display at the activity surface in real-time, the rendered real-time visual image corresponding to at least one visual asset associated with a subset of the events occurring during the interactive experience; and

a surface display module interactively linked to the surface rendering application, the surface display module configured to display the rendered real-time visual image at the activity surface to provide the real-time interactive surface.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the activity surface is used as the venue for a theme park attraction comprising the interactive experience.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the real-time interactive surface is implemented as a ride surface for a theme park ride.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a vehicle interactively linked to the events management application, the vehicle configured to move on the activity surface.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the events management application is further configured to track a position of the vehicle on the activity surface.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the events management application is further configured to track a velocity of the vehicle on the activity surface.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the surface display module is configured to display the rendered real-time visual image at the activity surface from above the activity surface.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the surface display module is configured to display the rendered real-time visual image at the activity surface from below the activity surface.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the surface display module is integrated with the activity surface, so that the activity surface comprises the surface display module.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the events management application is further configured to personalize the interactive experience for a participant in the interactive experience according to an interaction history of the participant.

11. A method for providing a real-time interactive surface, the method comprising:

providing an activity surface as a venue for an interactive experience;

hosting the interactive experience on the activity surface;

monitoring events occurring during the interactive experience;

associating at least one visual asset with a subset of the monitored events occurring during the interactive experience;

rendering a visual image corresponding to the at least one visual asset for display at the activity surface in real-time; and

displaying the rendered real-time visual image at the activity surface, thereby providing the real-time interactive surface.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein providing the activity surface as the venue for the interactive experience comprises using the activity surface as the venue for a theme park attraction comprising the interactive experience.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein providing the activity surface as the venue for the interactive experience comprises using the activity surface as a ride surface for a theme park ride.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing a vehicle configured to move on the activity surface during the interactive experience.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein providing the vehicle comprises providing a theme park ride vehicle for use in a theme park ride performed on the activity surface.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising tracking a position of the vehicle on the activity surface.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising tracking a velocity of the vehicle on the activity surface.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein displaying the rendered real-time visual image at the activity surface comprises displaying the rendered real-time visual image from above the activity surface.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein displaying the rendered real-time visual image at the activity surface comprises displaying the rendered real-time visual image from below the activity surface.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising personalizing the interactive experience for a participant in the interactive experience according to an interaction history of the participant.