SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A SELF-PROPELLED DEVICE IN CONNECTION WITH A VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT

• US 20120173050A1
• Filed: 01/03/2012
• Published: 07/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sphero Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sphero Inc.
• Inventors: BERNSTEIN, Ian H., WILSON, Adam, BERBERIAN, Paul
• Application Number:
  US13/342,914
• Publication Number:
  US 20120173050A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/005 Motorised rolling toys
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 61/00 Motor vehicles or trailers, characterised by the arrangement or number of wheels, not otherwise provided for, e.g. four wheels in diamond pattern
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0011 associated with a remote control arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0016 characterised by the operator's input device input arrangements for computing systems in general G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0044 by providing the operator with a computer generated representation of the environment of the vehicle, e.g. virtual reality, maps maps used for automatic navigation G05D1/0274; flight directors G01C23/005
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0088 characterized by the autonomous decision making process, e.g. artificial intelligence, predefined behaviours using knowledge based models G06N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0212 with means for defining a desired trajectory involving a plurality of land vehicles G05D1/0287
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0259 using magnetic or electromagnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/027 comprising intertial navigation means, e.g. azimuth detector inertial navigation G01C21/16; inertial navigation combined with non-inertial navigation instruments G01C21/165
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0278 using satellite positioning signals, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0891 specially adapted for land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 901/01 Mobile robot

Abstract

A system for controlling a self-propelled device in connection with a virtual environment in which the self-propelled device is represented.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a self-propelled device, the method comprising:

(a) generating a user interface on a mobile computing device that is configured to control the self-propelled device, the user interface providing a content that includes an object representation of the self-propelled device;

(b) detecting the user performing a set of one or more actions on the mobile computing device;

(c) interpreting the set of actions as a command that specifies one or more parameters for moving the self-propelled device;

(d) moving the self-propelled device in accordance with the one or more parameters; and

(e) displaying the object representation of the self-propelled device as moving or changing a position based on movement of the self-propelled device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein (c) is performed on the self-propelled device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the self-propelled device is represented graphically in the content as a ball, and wherein (e) includes presenting the ball as moving or having moved in the content.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises detecting a position or path of the self-propelled device at an instance after initiating the self-propelled device into moving, and wherein (e) includes generating the content to display the object representing the self-propelled device moving in position on the user interface based on the self-propelled device having moved to the position or along the path.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising displaying the object representing the self-propelled device interacting with other features of the content when the object representing the self-propelled device moves.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising moving the object representing the self-propelled device along a path that corresponds to a path of movement of the self-propelled device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein (e) includes using a sensor on the mobile computing device to detect the device'"'"'s movement.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein (a) includes prompting the user to perform one or more of the actions in the set of actions using the user interface.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein (a) includes prompting the user to place his finger or hand on a display screen on which the user interface is generated.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein (a) includes prompting the user to move the self-propelled device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein (a) includes generating the content for a game, and wherein the object representation of the self-propelled device is a facet of the game.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein a movement or state of the object representation of the self-propelled device is based on movement of the self-propelled device.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein (e) includes moving the object representation in a path that simulates a path of movement of the self-propelled device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein moving the object representation includes moving the object representation in a manner that reflects variations in the movement of the self-propelled device with respect to one or more of the X-, Y-, or Z-axis.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein moving the object representation includes reflecting, in moving the object representation, the self-propelled device becoming jarred or temporarily obstructed,

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising interacting the object representation with one or more virtual objects that are provided in a virtual environment of the object representation.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising controlling additional movement of the self-propelled device as a result of the object representation interacting with the one or more virtual objects.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein controlling additional movement includes controlling movement of the self-propelled device to reflect a collision between the object representation and one of the virtual objects.

19. A computing device for controlling a self-propelled device, the computing device comprising:

a memory that stores a set of instructions;

one or more processors;

one or more sensors configured to detect one or more actions of a user of the computing device;

a wireless communication port to communicate with the self-propelled device;

a display screen;

wherein the one or more processors are configured to access the memory to execute instructions, from the set of instructions, that cause the computing device to;

generate a user interface on the display screen, the user interface providing a content that includes an object representation of the self-propelled device;

detect, using the one or more sensors, the user performing a set of actions on the computing device;

interpret the set of actions as one or more parameters for moving the self-propelled device;

signal, using the wireless communication port, data that moves the self-propelled device in accordance with the one or more parameters; and

configure the content to show movement of the object representation of the self-propelled device based on the self-propelled device moving.

20. A system comprising:

a self-propelled device;

a controller device including;

a memory that stores a set of instructions;

one or more processors;

one or more sensors configured to detect one or more actions of a user of the computing device;

a wireless communication port to communicate with the self-propelled device;

a display screen;

wherein the one or more processors are configured to access the memory to execute instructions, from the set of instructions, that cause the computing device to;

generate a user interface on the display screen, the user interface providing a content that includes an object representation of the self-propelled device;

detect, using the one or more sensors, the user performing a set of actions on the computing device;

interpret the set of actions as one or more parameters for moving the self-propelled device;

signal, using the wireless communication port, data that moves the self-propelled device in accordance with the one or more parameters; and

configure the content to show movement of the object representation of the self-propelled device based on the self-propelled device moving.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the one or more processors of the controller device generate a virtual environment for the object representation of the self-propelled device, and wherein an event in the virtual environment is communicated to the self-propelled device.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein a movement or state of the self-propelled device is affected by the event of the virtual environment.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the one or more processors of the controller device generate a virtual environment for the object representation of the self-propelled device, and wherein an event experienced by the self-propelled device is communicated to the controller device and reflected in virtual environment and/or in the object representation of the self-propelled device.