System and Method for Capture and Use of Player Vital Signs in Gameplay

• US 20140057720A1
• Filed: 08/22/2013
• Published: 02/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: 2343127 Ontario, Inc.
• Original Assignee: 2343127 Ontario, Inc.
• Inventors: Chowdhary, Yousuf, Sharma, Ravinder ("Ray"), Brunet, Jeffrey
• Application Number:
  US13/973,115
• Publication Number:
  US 20140057720A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/36
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/212 using sensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat or leg activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/822 Strategy games; Role-playing games A63F13/825, A63F13/828 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/436 using biological or physiological data of a human being, e.g. blood pressure, facial expression, gestures

Abstract

A computer-implemented method is provided for enabling virtual gameplay with a virtual character on a computing device. The player can access at least one video game and interact with the video game via a virtual character. The computing device detects or receives and stores at least one vital sign of the player. This vital sign is used to retrieve a storyline for the virtual character to interact with, which is related to the at least one vital sign.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of enabling virtual gameplay with a virtual character on a computing device in communication with a storage means, the method comprising the steps of:

providing access to at least one video game in which a player is able to interact with the video game via a virtual character;

detecting at the computing device at least one vital sign of the player, and storing the at least one vital sign on the storage means; and

in response to the detected at least one vital sign, retrieving using the computing device a storyline for the virtual character to interact with, the retrieved storyline being related to the at least one vital sign of the player.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting a second or subsequent vital sign of the player in the course of gameplay, and retrieving a second or further storyline for the player'"'"'s virtual character to interact with, the second or further storyline being related to the second or subsequent vital sign.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein each storyline comprises one or a combination of plot, plot nodes, character interactions, encounters, settings, aesthetics, levels, premise, or theme.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the second or further storyline replaces the previously retrieved storyline.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the second or further storyline is added to the previously retrieved storyline.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising modifying the virtual character'"'"'s appearance, facial or body expression or health in response to the detected at least one vital sign.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising modifying a level of difficulty in response to the detected at least one vital sign.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein a detected resting or calm vital sign results in an increased level of difficulty.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein a detected agitated or elevated vital sign results in a decreased level of difficulty.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein a relative range of vital sign is considered with respect to an operating context within the game.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein the virtual character is changed to reflect a state matching the player'"'"'s detected vital sign.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein the virtual character is changed to reflect a state opposite to the player'"'"'s detected vital sign.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the scene or setting is modified in response to the player'"'"'s detected vital sign.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein game monsters, enemies, traps or puzzles are modified in response to the player'"'"'s detected vital sign.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising modifying character statistics of the virtual character in response to the detected vital sign.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising modifying tools, weapons, equipment or clothing of the virtual character in response to the detected vital sign.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the video game is accessible by multiple players, each player having a detected vital sign, and players within a similar range in their detected vital signs can interact in the game with each other via their virtual characters.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein a new player joining the game having a previously-unrepresented range of vital sign opens up a new storyline for all of the players currently in the game.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein if a player is the only player within a specific range of vital sign, the departure of that player from the game closes up the storyline for the remaining players in the game.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one vital sign is re-detected at intervals, and in the event of a change in the vital sign, the virtual character is shown moving to a new scene in the storyline.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting step further includes taking a baseline reading of the player'"'"'s vital sign before the game and comparing a subsequently detected vital sign to see if it is above or below the baseline.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting step further includes comparing the player'"'"'s vital sign to a database of normal ranges for that vital sign, the database being broken down by at least one of:

gender, sex, age, height, weight, build, physical condition.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the database is further broken down having regard to aspects of the game operating context.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the database can be customized with player input.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein if a null vital sign is detected or the detected vital sign is unsupported, a default storyline is provided.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the storage means is provided by one or a combination of:

a local fixed memory, a local removable memory, a remote fixed memory, a remote removable memory, and a virtual memory.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein the storage means is selected from the group consisting of:

a local data storage of a game console, a local inbuilt memory, a user provided memory, an online server, and a shared folder on a network.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting step includes retrieving vital sign data from a sensor.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein the player is enabled to play the game using a game device, and the player'"'"'s at least one vital sign is detected by an on-board sensor on the game device.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the game device is a mobile device.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein the sensor is one or a combination of:

camera, video camera, microphone, accelerometer, gyroscope, touch screen, temperature sensor, pressure sensor, heart rate monitor, pulse monitor, respiration monitor, moisture sensor, pH sensor, artificial nose.

32. The method of claim 28, wherein the sensor is a purpose-built sensor.

33. The method of claim 28, wherein the sensor is attached to the player'"'"'s body during game play.

34. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting step includes obtaining vital sign information from player input.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein the sensor is a sensor that is not otherwise used as a game controller.

36. The method of claim 31, wherein any sensor used as a game controller is not used to receive player vital signs.

37. The method of claim 29, wherein the onboard sensor is a video camera, and wherein the video camera is used to detect blood flow, blood colour, or blood pressure as a vital sign.