Auto-Generating A Visual Representation

• US 20110025689A1
• Filed: 07/29/2009
• Published: 02/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Kipman, Alex, Wilson, Andrew, Perez, Kathryn Stone, Burton, Nicholas D.
• Application Number:
  US12/511,850
• Publication Number:
  US 20110025689A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/420
• 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 13/428 involving motion or position input signals, e.g. signals representing the rotation of an input controller or a player's arm motions sensed by accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/533 for prompting the player, e.g. by displaying a game menu
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/63 by the player, e.g. authoring using a level editor
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/655 by importing photos, e.g. of the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/69 by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/833 Hand-to-hand fighting, e.g. martial arts competition A63F13/837 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1093 using visible light
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5553 user representation in the game field, e.g. avatar
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6018 where the game content is authored by the player, e.g. level editor or by game device at runtime, e.g. level is created from music data on CD
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6607 for animating game characters, e.g. skeleton kinematics
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/69 Involving elements of the real world in the game world, e.g. measurement in live races, real video

Abstract

Techniques for auto-generating the target'"'"'s visual representation may reduce or eliminate the manual input required for the generation of the target'"'"'s visual representation. For example, a system having a capture device may detect various features of a user in the physical space and make feature selections from a library of visual representation feature options based on the detected features. The system can automatically apply the selections to the visual representation of the user based on the detected features. Alternately, the system may make selections that narrow the number of options for features from which the user chooses. The system may apply the selections to the user in real time as well as make updates to the features selected and applied to the target'"'"'s visual representation in real time.

Claims

1. A method for generating a visual representation of a target, the method comprising:

receiving data of a scene, wherein the data includes data representative of the target in a physical space;

detecting at least one target feature from the data;

comparing the at least one detected target feature to visual representation feature options, wherein the visual representation feature options comprise selectable options configured for application to the visual representation of the target;

selecting a visual representation feature from the visual representation feature options;

applying the visual representation feature to the visual representation of the target; and

rendering the visual representation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the visual representation is auto-generated from the comparison of the at least one detected target feature to the visual representation feature options such that the selection of the visual representation feature is performed without manual selection by a user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the visual representation feature comprises selecting the visual representation feature that is similar to the at least one detected target feature.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the visual representation feature is at least one of a facial feature, a body part, a color, a size, a height, a width, a shape, an accessory, or a clothing item.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a subset of visual representation feature options, from the visual representation feature options, for the visual representation feature; and

providing the generated subset of feature options for user selection of the visual representation feature to apply to the visual representation.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the generated subset of visual representation feature options comprises a plurality of the visual representation feature options that are similar to the at least one detected target feature.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising receiving the user selection of the visual representation feature from the generated subset of feature options, wherein selecting the visual representation feature from the visual representation feature options comprises selecting the visual representation feature that corresponds to the user selection.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the visual representation, having the visual representation feature, is rendered in real time.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring the target and detecting a change in the at least one detected target feature;

updating the visual representation of the target by updating the visual representation feature applied to the visual representation, in real time, based on the change in the at least one detected target feature.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising, where the target is a human target, detecting a position of at least one of a user'"'"'s eyes, mouth, nose, or eyebrows, and using the position to align a corresponding visual representation feature to the visual representation.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising modifying the selected visual representation feature based on a setting that provides a desired modification.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the modification is based on a sliding scale that can provide various levels of modification for the visual representation feature.

13. A device, the device comprising:

a capture device, the capture device for receiving data of the scene, wherein the data includes data representative of a target in the physical space; and

a processor, the processor for executing computer executable instructions, the computer executable instructions comprising instructions for;

detecting at least one target feature from the data;

comparing the at least one detected target feature to visual representation feature options, wherein the visual representation feature options comprise selectable options configured for application to a visual representation;

selecting a visual representation feature from the visual representation feature options; and

applying the visual representation feature to the visual representation of the target.

14. The device of claim 13, further comprising a display device for rendering the visual representation in real time, wherein the processor auto-generates the visual representation from the comparison of the at least one detected target feature to the visual representation feature options such that the selection of the visual representation feature is performed without manual selection by a user.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein selecting the visual representation feature comprises selecting the visual representation feature that is similar to the at least one detected target feature.

16. The device of claim 13, the computer executable instructions further comprising instructions for:

generating a subset of visual representation feature options, from the visual representation feature options, for the visual representation feature; and

providing the generated subset of feature options on a display device for user selection of the visual representation feature to apply to the visual representation.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the generated subset of visual representation feature options comprises a plurality of the visual representation feature options that are similar to the at least one detected target feature.

18. The device of claim 16, the computer executable instructions further comprising instructions for receiving the user selection of the visual representation feature from the generated subset of feature options, wherein selecting the visual representation feature from the visual representation feature options comprises selecting the visual representation feature that corresponds to the user selection.

19. The device of claim 13, the computer executable instructions further comprising instructions for:

monitoring the target and detecting a change in the at least one detected target feature;

updating the visual representation of the target by updating the visual representation feature applied to the visual representation, in real time, based on the change in the at least one detected target feature.

20. The device of claim 13, the computer executable instructions further comprising instructions for modifying the selected visual representation feature based on a setting that provides a desired modification.