METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR PROVIDING REMOTE PARTICIPATION IN MULTI-MEDIA EVENTS

• US 20110082008A1
• Filed: 10/02/2009
• Published: 04/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Karam, Gerald, Cheung, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 8,376,910 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0096 using performance related parameters for controlling electronic or video games or avatars
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0638 Displaying moving images of recorded environment, e.g. virtual environment
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0076 Rowing machines for conditioning the cardio-vascular system seats moving during exercise A63B22/0087; training appliances for rowing or sculling on boats A63B69/06
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/02 with movable endless bands , e.g. treadmills other training appliances for running on the spot A63B69/0028
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0605 performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0664 performing an elliptic movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/17 Counting, e.g. counting periodical movements, revolutions or cycles, or including further data processing to determine distances or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/20 Distances or displacements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/36 Speed measurement by electric or magnetic parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/70 Measuring or simulating ambient conditions, e.g. weather, terrain or surface conditions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/76 Wind conditions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/75 calorie expenditure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0084 Exercising apparatus with means for competitions, e.g. virtual races
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 : Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 : Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer program products for implementing remote participation in events are provided. A method includes providing a view of an instance of an application on endpoint systems in response to a common option selected by the endpoint systems of the application. The method also includes receiving performance data from the endpoint systems, and populating the view with virtual representations of users of each of the endpoint systems. The populating includes positioning the virtual representations at various locations in the view. The various locations are indicative of the performance data.

Claims

1. A method for providing remote participation in events, comprising:

providing a view of an instance of an application on endpoint systems in response to a common option selected by the endpoint systems of the application;

receiving performance data from the endpoint systems; and

populating the view with virtual representations of users of each of the endpoint systems, the populating including positioning the virtual representations at various locations in the view, the various locations indicative of the performance data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the view represents an event selected as the common option, the event comprising at least one of:

a simulated exercise course; and

a live exercise course.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the view includes the performance data for each of the users and at least one of:

audio comments from at least one of the users;

video comments from at least one of the users;

images from one at least one of the users; and

text-based messages from at least one of the users.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the performance data is captured by devices of the endpoint systems, the devices including:

a performance capturing device;

a communication device; and

a graphical display device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the performance capturing device comprises at least one of:

a pedometer, accelerometer, global positioning system, and sensors; and

wherein types of data captured by performance capturing devices include speed, distance, grade, and resistance.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the communication device comprises at least one of:

a cellular telephone, digital camera phone, video camera phone, personal digital assistant, general-purpose computer, telephone, voice-over-IP device, and Internet Protocol-enabled television.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the graphical display device comprises a display monitor.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein at least one of the devices is embedded into a physical exercise machine.

9. A system for providing remote participation in events, comprising:

a host system computer; and

an application executing on the host system computer, the application implementing a method, comprising;

providing a view of an instance of an application on endpoint systems in response to a common option selected by the endpoint systems of the application;

receiving performance data from the endpoint systems; and

populating the view with virtual representations of users of each of the endpoint systems, the populating including positioning the virtual representations at various locations in the view, the various locations indicative of the performance data.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the view represents an event selected as the common option, the event comprising at least one of:

a simulated exercise course; and

a live exercise course; and

wherein the view includes the performance data for each of the users and at least one of;

audio comments from at least one of the users;

video comments from at least one of the users;

images from one at least one of the users; and

text-based messages from at least one of the users.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the performance data is captured by devices of the endpoint systems, the devices including:

a performance capturing device;

a communication device; and

a graphical display device.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the performance capturing device comprises at least one of:

a pedometer, accelerometer, global positioning system, and sensors; and

wherein types of data captured by performance capturing devices include speed, distance, grade, and resistance.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the communication device comprises at least one of:

a cellular telephone, digital camera phone, video camera phone, personal digital assistant, general-purpose computer, telephone, voice-over-IP device, and Internet Protocol-enabled television; and

wherein the graphical display device comprises a display monitor.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein at least one of the devices is embedded into a physical exercise machine.

15. A computer program product for providing remote participation in events, the computer program product including a computer-readable storage medium having computer program instructions encoded thereon, which when executed by a computer cause the computer to implement a method, the method comprising:

providing a view of an instance of an application on endpoint systems in response to a common option selected by the endpoint systems of the application;

receiving performance data from the endpoint systems; and

populating the view with virtual representations of users of each of the endpoint systems, the populating including positioning the virtual representations at various locations in the view, the various locations indicative of the performance data.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the view represents an event selected as the common option, the event comprising at least one of:

a simulated exercise course; and

a live exercise course; and

wherein the view includes the performance data for each of the users and at least one of;

audio comments from at least one of the users;

video comments from at least one of the users;

images from one at least one of the users; and

text-based messages from at least one of the users.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the performance data is captured by devices of the endpoint systems, the devices including:

a performance capturing device;

a communication device; and

a graphical display device.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the performance capturing device comprises at least one of:

a pedometer, accelerometer, global positioning system, and sensors; and

wherein types of data captured by performance capturing devices include speed, distance, grade, and resistance.

19. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the communication device comprises at least one of:

a cellular telephone, digital camera phone, video camera phone, personal digital assistant, general-purpose computer, telephone, voice-over-IP device, and Internet Protocol-enabled television; and

wherein the graphical display device comprises a display monitor.

20. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein at least one of the devices is embedded into a physical exercise machine.