Interactive entertainment personalisation
First Claim
1. Interactive entertainment apparatus operable to output sequences of image frames comprising a user-influenced path through a branch structured narrative, the apparatus comprising:
- a source of image frame data for all branch structure paths of the narrative;
branch storage means for data defining the narrative branch structure;
user operable input means;
branch selection means coupled to the branch storage means and operable to determine when the narrative reaches a branch point and to call one of two or more image frame sequences from the image frame source in dependence on the user input;
an output for the selected image frame sequences; and
a user memory,the branch selection means being arranged to record therein data specifying two or more past user inputs, and to refuse or enable access to at least one path from a branch path in dependence on the stored past input data.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for enabling user interaction with a branch-structured narrative entertainment (90) in which branch path selection (A,B,C) is made at least partially in response to user input. A user is provided with a non-volatile memory, such as a smart card, in which memory is stored data specifying a record of past user interactions. This data is periodically checked and updated by the apparatus and, at one or more branch points (92) of the narrative, access to one or more branch paths (A,B,C) is enabled or denied on the basis of the stored user history.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. Interactive entertainment apparatus operable to output sequences of image frames comprising a user-influenced path through a branch structured narrative, the apparatus comprising:
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a source of image frame data for all branch structure paths of the narrative; branch storage means for data defining the narrative branch structure; user operable input means; branch selection means coupled to the branch storage means and operable to determine when the narrative reaches a branch point and to call one of two or more image frame sequences from the image frame source in dependence on the user input; an output for the selected image frame sequences; and a user memory, the branch selection means being arranged to record therein data specifying two or more past user inputs, and to refuse or enable access to at least one path from a branch path in dependence on the stored past input data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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- 7. A method for control of an interactive entertainment apparatus, where the apparatus presents to the user a branch structured narrative, and user input determines which path is followed at at least one narrative branch point, characterised in that a history is maintained of a user'"'"'s interactions and branch path selection at at least one narrative branch point is enabled or disabled on the basis of the user history.
Specification