System and method for displaying an interactive event
First Claim
1. A method of displaying significant game events to bystanders watching a race simulation game comprising the steps:
- receiving an event data stream from any video game system which simulates a race, said event data stream containing data which indicates when significant game events are occurring, and what type of significant game event is occurring and to which racers;
monitoring said event data stream for data indicating significant game events are occurring and responding to said significant game events by generating video signals that can be used to create an image of the significant game event as it is happening as if an actual race was being covered by a live television crew with multiple cameras and a live director was controlling which camera signals were selected for broadcast to a television viewing audience and the director selected the camera or cameras having the best position to show the event in the race which the significant game event simulates; and
using said video signals to create an image of said significant game event on a monitor visible to bystanders watching the race simulation or using said video signals in a video projection system to create and project video images of the significant game event on a screen visible to bystanders watching the race simulation.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
This disclosure is directed to novel systems and methods for displaying an interactive event, such as a race car video game. Numerous display devices are disclosed for displaying video and audio elements of the video game to both current players and to individuals not currently playing the video game. The race car video game further has seating for two occupants, a driver and a crew member and has a separate video monitor for the crew member, through which the crew member can selectively view the race from different viewpoints and can obtain race information. The display of the race car game to individuals not currently playing the game varies according to several factors to enhance the attraction and interest in the race car video game.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method of displaying significant game events to bystanders watching a race simulation game comprising the steps:
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receiving an event data stream from any video game system which simulates a race, said event data stream containing data which indicates when significant game events are occurring, and what type of significant game event is occurring and to which racers; monitoring said event data stream for data indicating significant game events are occurring and responding to said significant game events by generating video signals that can be used to create an image of the significant game event as it is happening as if an actual race was being covered by a live television crew with multiple cameras and a live director was controlling which camera signals were selected for broadcast to a television viewing audience and the director selected the camera or cameras having the best position to show the event in the race which the significant game event simulates; and using said video signals to create an image of said significant game event on a monitor visible to bystanders watching the race simulation or using said video signals in a video projection system to create and project video images of the significant game event on a screen visible to bystanders watching the race simulation.
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2. A method of providing video coverage and simulated live announcer audio descriptions of significant game events to bystanders watching a race simulation game, comprising the steps:
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receiving an event data stream from any video game system which simulates a race, said event data stream containing data which indicates when significant game events are occurring, and what type of significant game event is occurring and to which racers; monitoring said event data stream for data indicating significant game events are occurring and responding to said significant game events by generating video signals and audio signals, wherein said video signals generated in response to each significant game event can be used to create an image of the significant game event as it is happening in the race simulation as if an actual race was being covered by a live television crew with multiple cameras and a live director was controlling which camera signals were selected for broadcast to a television viewing audience and the director selected the camera or cameras having the best position to show the event in the race which the significant game event simulates, and wherein said audio signals generated in response to said significant game event can be used to provide a simulated live announcer'"'"'s audible description of the significant game event; using said video signals to create an image of said significant game event on a monitor visible to bystanders watching the race simulation or using said video signals in a video projection system to create and project video images of the significant game event on a screen visible to bystanders watching the race simulation; and using said audio signals to create an audible simulation of a live announcer'"'"'s description of the significant game event as it occurs. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A display apparatus for a video game, comprising:
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an input for receiving an interactive event data stream containing data defining the types and times of events which are occurring in an interactive racing game simulating a real race wherein one or more players are competing against each other or computer controlled drones or both, said events including predetermined significant game events of interest to bystanders watching the race such as crashes and other events of significance to race results; a production controller computer coupled to receive said interactive event data stream and programmed to generate video commands at a video command stream output which are used to control images displayed to said bystanders and the viewpoints of said images, and programmed to monitor said interactive event data stream for the occurrence of said significant game events and, when a significant game event occurs, to select and transmit one or more specially generated video commands, with the generation therof being controlled by which significant game event occurred to which race contestant so as to change the viewpoint and images displayed to said bystanders to show said significant game event as it happens; a video generation system coupled to said video command stream output so as to receive said video commands and respond by generating video signals which can be displayed on a monitor or used by a video projection system to generate said images which present the action of the race and including circuitry to receive said specially selected video command or commands each time a significant game event occurs and respond by generating video signals which, when displayed on a video monitor or used by a video projection system to project an image, create an image for said bystanders of the significant game event as it happens, said image being similar to the images of a race event which the significant game event simulates which the bystanders would be likely to see if they were television viewers of a race in which such a race event occurred and a live television camera crew with multiple cameras were covering the race and a live director was controlling which signals from which cameras were broadcast to said television viewers so as to show the race event which the significant game event simulates; and a video monitor or video projection system and projection screen, positioned such that said bystanders can watch the race and coupled to receive said video signals generated by said video generation system and display video images that show said race to said bystanders and to show to said bystanders watching said race game significant game events in said simulated race as they happen. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A display apparatus for a video game, comprising:
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an input for receiving an interactive event data stream containing data defining the types and times of events which are occurring in an interactive racing game simulating a real race wherein one or more players are competing against each other or computer controlled drones or both, said events including predetermined significant game events of interest to bystanders watching the race such as crashes and other events of significance to race results; an audio/video production controller computer coupled to receive said interactive event data stream and programmed to generate video commands at a video command stream output and audio commands at an audio command stream output, said video commands for use in controlling viewpoints of video images which show the race to bystanders and said audio commands for use in generating simulated announcer commentary and race sounds to give bystanders audio information about the race, said audio/video production controller also programmed to monitor said interactive event data stream for the occurrence of said significant game events and, when a significant game event occurs, to transmit out said video command stream output one or more specially generated video commands and to transmit out said audio command stream output one or more specially generated audio commands; a video generation system coupled to said video command stream output so as to receive said video commands and respond by generating video signals which can be displayed on a monitor or used by a video projection system to generate video images which present the action of the race, said video generation system also containing circuits to receive said specially selected video viewpoint command each time a significant game event occurs and respond by generating video signals which, when displayed on a video monitor or used by a video projection system to project a video image, create an image of the significant game event selected to show the significant game event to bystanders watching the race game as if the race game bystanders were television viewers watching a race on television and a live television camera crew with multiple cameras were covering the race and a live director was controlling which signals from which cameras were broadcast to said television viewers so as to show a significant race event which the significant game event represents and simulates; an audio generation system coupled to said audio command stream output so as to receive said audio commands and respond by generating audio signals which can be played through a speaker which describe the action of the race and/or provide other sounds a real spectator at a race might hear, said audio generation system also containing circuits to receive said one or more specially selected audio commands each time a significant game event occurs and respond by generating audio signals which, when played through a speaker simulate an announcer describing the significant game event to bystanders watching the race game as if the race game bystanders were television viewers watching a race on television and a live television camera crew with multiple cameras were covering the race and a announcer was describing a significant race event which the significant game event represents and simulates; and a video monitor or video projection system and projection screen, positioned such that said bystanders can watch the race and coupled to receive said video signals generated by said video generation system and display video images that show said race to said bystanders and to show to said bystanders watching said race game significant game events in said simulated race as they happen. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. An apparatus for displaying significant game events to bystanders watching a race simulation game comprising:
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an input for receiving an event data stream from any video game system which simulates a race, said event data stream containing data which indicates when significant game events are occurring and the type of event which is occurring and to which racers; means for monitoring said event data stream for data indicating significant game events are occurring and responding to said significant game events by generating video signals that can be used to create an image of the significant game event as it is happening as if an actual race was being covered by a live television crew with multiple cameras and a live director was controlling which camera signals were selected for broadcast to a television viewing audience and the director selected the camera or cameras having a position to show the event in the race which the significant game event simulates; and means for using said video signals to create an image of said significant game event on a monitor visible to bystanders watching the race simulation or using said video signals in a video projection system to create and project video images of the significant game event on a screen visible to bystanders watching the race simulation.
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14. An apparatus for providing video coverage and simulated live announcer audio descriptions of significant game events to bystanders watching a race simulation game, comprising:
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an input for receiving an event data stream from any video game system which simulates a race, said event data stream containing data which indicates when significant game events are occurring and the type of event which is occurring and to which racers; means for monitoring said event data stream for data indicating significant game events are occurring and responding to said significant game events by generating video signals and audio signals, wherein said video signals generated in response to each significant game event can be used to create an image of the significant game event as it is happening in the race simulation as if an actual race was being covered by a live television crew with multiple cameras and a live director was controlling which camera signals were selected for broadcast to a television viewing audience and the director selected the camera or cameras having a position to show the event in the race which the significant game event simulates, and wherein said audio signals generated in response to said significant game event can be used to provide a simulated live announcer'"'"'s audible description of the significant game event; and video image generation means for using said video signals to create an image of said significant game event on a monitor visible to bystanders watching the race simulation or using said video signals in a video projection system to create and project video images of the significant game event on a screen visible to bystanders watching the race simulation; audio sound generation means for using said audio signals to create an audible simulation of a live announcer'"'"'s description of the significant game event as it occurs. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for displaying video information to a crew member position in a simulation game having a simulated vehicle with at least two places being maneuvered through a race or any other environment, said simulated vehicle having a driver station with a driver display visible from both a driver position and a crew position in a simulated vehicle and a crew monitor positioned closest to a crew station in said simulated vehicle and having one or more crew switches located adjacent said crew monitor, comprising the steps:
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displaying on said driver display images depicting a simulated race or any other simulated situation through which said simulated vehicle is being maneuvered; displaying images on said crew monitor which are useful to a crew member sitting at said crew station for gathering information about the situation to convey to said driver; monitoring the positions of said crew switches for changes in position indicating said crew member is requesting different images displayed on said crew monitor at least some of which may bear different information than the images previously displayed, and displaying the requested images on said crew monitor.
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21. A method for displaying video information to a crew member position in a simulation game having a simulated vehicle with at least two places being maneuvered through a race or any other environment, said simulated vehicle having a driver station with a driver display visible from at least the driver position and a crew monitor positioned closest to a crew station in said simulated vehicle, comprising the steps:
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displaying on said driver display images depicting a simulated race or any other simulated situation or environment through which said simulated vehicle is being maneuvered; displaying one or more images on said crew monitor which are different from the images being displayed on said driver monitor and which are useful to a crew member sitting at said crew station for gathering information about the race or other situation to convey to said driver.
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22. An apparatus for displaying video information to a crew member position in a simulation game, comprising:
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a simulated vehicle with at least two places with controls to allow a driver to maneuver said simulated vehicle through a race or any other environment, said simulated vehicle having a driver station with at least one driver display visible from at least a driver position and having a crew position, and having a crew monitor visible at least from said crew station in said simulated vehicle and having one or more crew switches located adjacent said crew monitor; means for displaying on said driver display images depicting a simulated race or any other simulated situation through which said simulated vehicle is being maneuvered and for changing the position and/or orientation or speed of said simulated vehicle in said race or other environment in response to manipulation of said controls; means for displaying images on said crew monitor which are useful to a crew member sitting at said crew station for gathering information about the situation in said race or other environment to convey to said driver; means for monitoring the positions of said crew switches for changes in position indicating said crew member is requesting that different images be displayed on said crew monitor at least some of which may bear different information about the situation in said race or other environment than the images previously displayed, and for displaying the requested images on said crew monitor.
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23. An apparatus for displaying video information to a crew member position in a simulation game, comprising:
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a simulated vehicle with at least two places with controls to allow a driver to maneuver said simulated vehicle through a race or any other environment, said simulated vehicle having a driver station with at least one driver display visible from at least a driver position and having a crew position, and having a crew monitor visible at least from said crew station in said simulated vehicle; means for displaying on said driver display images depicting a simulated race or any other simulated situation through which said simulated vehicle is being maneuvered and for changing the position and/or orientation or speed of said simulated vehicle in said race or other environment in response to manipulation of said controls; and means for displaying one or more images on said crew monitor which are different from the images being displayed on said driver monitor and which are useful to a crew member sitting at said crew station for gathering information about the race or other situation to convey to said driver.
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24. An apparatus for displaying video information to a crew member position in a simulation game, comprising:
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a simulated vehicle with at least two places with controls to allow a driver to maneuver said simulated vehicle through a race or any other environment, said simulated vehicle having a driver station with at least one driver display visible from at least a driver position and having a crew position, and having a crew monitor visible at least from said crew station in said simulated vehicle; a vehicle dynamics computer coupled to receive operator inputs from said controls and programmed to model the simulated responses said simulated vehicle would make in response to said control manipulations if it was a real vehicle, and programmed to receive information from vehicle dynamics computers modelling the response of other simulated vehicles in said race or other environment, and programmed to model the entire race or other environment; a driver display computer coupled to drive said driver display and to receive race or environment modelling data from said vehicle dynamics computer indicating the situation in said race or other environment and programmed to use said race or environment modelling data to generate video signals to drive said driver display to display an image that depicts the position, speed, acceleration and orientation of said simulated vehicle in said race or other environment; a crew display computer coupled to drive said crew display and coupled to receive race or environment modelling data from said vehicle dynamics computer and using said modelling data to generate video signals which drive said crew monitor to display one or more images on said crew monitor which are different from the images being displayed on said driver monitor and which are useful to a crew member sitting at said crew station for gathering information about the race or other situation to convey to said driver. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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Specification