Computer System, Computer System Control Method, Program, And Information Storage Medium

• US 20120068924A1
• Filed: 09/13/2011
• Published: 03/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Morita, Toru, Kawasaki, Takuya
• Granted Patent: US 8,970,491 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/157
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• 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 13/42 by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle
• 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 13/537 using indicators, e.g. showing the condition of a game character on screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/822 Strategy games; Role-playing games A63F13/825, A63F13/828 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/85 Providing additional services to players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/308 Details of the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

To prevent a user from sensing change in feeling of operation of a pointing device. There is provided a computer system control method for controlling a computer system having a coordinate designation system for producing base data for calculating position coordinates, the method comprising the steps of obtaining the position coordinates calculated based on the base data; when a predetermined application program is activated from another application program, obtaining position coordinates notified by the other application program, and showing a designated position image on a display screen based on the position coordinates obtained; and when the predetermined application program is activated from an operating system, showing the designated position image on the display screen based on the position coordinates obtained at the step of obtaining the position coordinates.

Claims

1. A computer system having a coordinate designation system for producing base data for calculating position coordinates and storing a first application program, a second application program, and an operating system for activating the first and second application programs, wherein

the first application program causes the computer system to function as

first position coordinate obtaining means for obtaining position coordinates that are calculated based on the base data,

first designated position image display means for showing a designated position image on a display screen based on the position coordinates obtained by the first position coordinate obtaining means,

activating means for activating the second application program, and

notifying means for notifying the second application program activated from the first application program of the position coordinates obtained by the first position coordinate obtaining means, and

the second application program causes the computer system to function as

second position coordinate obtaining means for obtaining the position coordinates that are calculated based on the base data, and

second designated position image display means, when the second application program is activated from the first application program, for obtaining the position coordinates notified by the notifying means, and showing the designated position image on the display screen based on the position coordinates obtained, and when the second application program is activated from the operating system, for showing the designated position image on the display screen based on the position coordinates obtained by the second designated position image display means.

2. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein

the base data includes 2D coordinate data indicating a position of the pointing device and posture data describing a posture of the pointing device,

the first position coordinate obtaining means obtains position coordinates indicating a direction designated by the pointing device based on the base data, and

the second position coordinate obtaining means obtains position coordinates corresponding to a spatial position of a predetermined part of the pointing device, based on the base data.

3. The computer system according to claim 2, wherein the second application program causes the commuter to function further as determination means for determining whether or not the second application program is activated from the first application or from the operation system.

4. A method for controlling a computer system having a coordinate designation system for producing base data for calculating position coordinates, comprising the steps of:

obtaining position coordinates that are calculated based on the base data;

when a predetermined application program is activated from another application program, obtaining position coordinates notified by the other application program, and showing a designated position image on a display screen based on the position coordinates obtained; and

when the predetermined application program is activated from an operating system, showing the designated position image on the display screen based on the position coordinates obtained at the step of obtaining the position coordinates.

5. A program for being executed by a computer system having a coordinate designation system for producing base data for calculating position coordinates, the program for causing the computer system to function as:

position coordinate obtaining means for obtaining the position coordinates that are calculated based on the base data;

designated position image display means for showing a designated position image on a display screen based on the position coordinates obtained by the position coordinate obtaining means;

activating means for activating another program; and

notifying means for notifying the other program of the position coordinates obtained by the position coordinate obtaining means.

7. A non-transient, computer readable information storage medium storing the program according to claim 5.

6. A program for being executed by a computer system having a coordinate designation system for producing base data for calculating position coordinates, the program for causing the computer system to function as:

position coordinate obtaining means for obtaining the position coordinates calculated based on the base data; and

designated position image display means, when the program is activated from a first program that is different from the program, for obtaining position coordinates notified by the first program, and showing a designated position image on a display screen based on the position coordinates obtained, and when the program is activated from a second program that is different from the program, for showing the designated position image on the display screen based on the position coordinates obtained by the position coordinate obtaining means.