Method and apparatus for coordinating an interactive computer game with a broadcast television program

• US 6,447,396 B1
• Filed: 10/17/2000
• Issued: 09/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: STATIC-FREE MEDIA, LLC
• Original Assignee: NearLife, Incorporated
• Inventors: Kline, Christopher, Kaufman, Henry, Galyean, Tinsley A. III, Galyean, Sheri
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheng, Joe H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jones, Scott E.
• Application Number:
  US09/690,584
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 463/40-42, 345/327, 345/329, 345/333-335, 348/14.01, 348/552
• US Class Current: 463/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/25 Output arrangements for video game devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/338 using television networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/55 Controlling game characters or game objects based on the game progress
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/30 characterized by output arrangements for receiving control signals generated by the game device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/409 Data transfer via television network
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/50 characterized by details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/534 for network load management, e.g. bandwidth optimization, latency reduction
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8082 Virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4781 Games
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

In order to coordinate an interactive computer game with a television broadcast, a central control establishes a large virtual environment in which viewers participate with characters either controlled or designed by them. Each user can directly control or influence characters within a “active region” which encompasses part of the virtual environment that is much less than the total environment. The broadcast portion of the system also has an active region, at least a portion of which is shown on a broadcast television show. The locations of the active regions are controlled by the central control. In accordance with one embodiment, the central control moves the active regions of selected users so that these active regions coincide or overlap the broadcast active region. The selected users are then allowed to control characters that appear on the broadcast television show. In accordance with another embodiment, the central control may transport characters created by a user from the user'"'"'s active region to the broadcast active region by means of a virtual “portal.”

Claims

1. A method for coordinating an interactive computer game being played by a plurality of users with a broadcast television program, comprising:

(a) simulating a virtual environment;

(b) assigning to each of the plurality of users a active region in the virtual environment that the user can control and in which the user can create a character, wherein the active region is smaller than the entire virtual environment;

(c) assigning to the broadcast program an active region in the virtual environment wherein the active region is smaller than the entire virtual environment and wherein at least a portion of the broadcast active region is displayed as part of the broadcast television program and can be seen by television viewers using conventional television receivers; and

(d) selecting at least one of the plurality of users and moving at least one character in the active region of the selected user to the broadcast active region so that the selected user can interact with the broadcast television program.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein step (d) comprises moving the active region of the selected user so that at least a portion of the selected user'"'"'s active region coincides with at least a portion of the broadcast active region.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein step (d) comprises moving characters from the active region of the selected user from the selected user'"'"'s active region to the broadcast active region.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein step (a) comprises using a central control to simulate the virtual environment.

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein each of the plurality of user'"'"'s has a computer on which a simulation program is running and wherein step (b) comprises using the user'"'"'s computer to control the portion of the virtual environment within the users active region.

6. The method according to claim 5 further comprising (e) using the Internet to communicate between the user computers and the central control.

7. The method according to claim 1 further comprising (f) assigning to each of the users a home area wherein the user can customize the environment.

8. The method according to claim 7 further comprising (g) moving the broadcast region to selected user home areas.

9. The method according to claim 1 further comprising (h) receiving inputs from a user to control a character in real time.

10. The method according to claim 1 further comprising (i) receiving characteristics and parameters from a user and constructing a character that operates autonomously based on the characteristics and parameters.

11. The method according to claim 1 further comprising (j) each of the plurality of users visually viewing at least a portion of his active area.

12. The method according to claim 11 wherein step (j) comprises each of the plurality of users viewing a portion of his active area on a computer monitor.

13. The method according to claim 1 further comprising (k) broadcasting a portion of the broadcast active region.

14. The method according to claim 13 wherein step (k) comprises broadcasting a portion of the broadcast active region as an entire animated television show.

15. The method according to claim 13 wherein step (k) comprises broadcasting a portion of the broadcast active region as a time segment of a television show.

16. The method according to claim 13 wherein step (k) comprises broadcasting a portion of the broadcast active region as part of a television show using live actors.

17. The method according to claim 16 wherein the live actors interact with characters in the broadcast active region.

18. Apparatus for coordinating an interactive computer game being played by a plurality of users on computers with a broadcast television program, comprising:

a computer game program operating in the computers of the users for simulating a virtual environment;

a mechanism in the computer game program for assigning to each of the plurality of users a active region in the virtual environment that the user can control and in which the user can create a character, wherein the active region is smaller than the entire virtual environment;

providing to the broadcast program a computer which runs the computer game program and assigns an active region in the virtual environment wherein the active region is smaller than the entire virtual environment and wherein at least a portion of the broadcast active region is displayed as part of the broadcast television program and can be seen by television viewers using conventional television receivers; and

a mechanism that selects at least one of the plurality of users and moves at least one character in the active region of the selected user to the broadcast active region so that the selected user can interact with the broadcast television program.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the selecting mechanism comprises a boundary subroutine that moves the active region of the selected user so that at least a portion of the selected user'"'"'s active region coincides with at least a portion of the broadcast active region.

20. The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the selecting mechanism comprises a portal that moves characters from the active region of the selected user from the selected user'"'"'s active region to the broadcast active region.

21. The apparatus according to claim 18 further comprising a central control that simulates the entire virtual environment.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21 wherein the computer game program running on each user'"'"'s computer controls the portion of the virtual environment within the users active region.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22 further comprising a communication module that uses the Internet to communicate between the user computers and the central control.

24. The apparatus according to claim 18 further comprising a subroutine in the game program that assigns to each of the users a home area wherein the user can customize the environment.

25. The apparatus according to claim 24 further comprising a mechanism that moves the broadcast region to selected user home areas.

26. The apparatus according to claim 18 further comprising an input device that receives inputs from a user to control a character in real time.

27. The apparatus according to claim 18 further comprising an input mechanism that receives characteristics and parameters from a user and constructs a character that operates autonomously based on the characteristics and parameters.

28. The apparatus according to claim 18 further comprising a visual display that allows each of the plurality of users to visually view at least a portion of his active area.

29. The apparatus according to claim 28 wherein the visual display comprises a computer monitor.

30. The apparatus according to claim 18 further comprising a broadcast system that broadcasts a portion of the broadcast active region.

31. The apparatus according to claim 30 wherein the broadcast system comprises an animation system that broadcasts a portion of the broadcast active region as an entire animated television show.

32. The apparatus according to claim 30 wherein the broadcast system comprises an animation system that broadcasts a portion of the broadcast active region as a time segment of a television show.

33. The apparatus according to claim 30 wherein the broadcast system comprises a live broadcast production system that broadcasts a portion of the broadcast active region as part of a television show using live actors.

34. The apparatus according to claim 33 wherein the live actors interact with characters in the broadcast active region.

35. A computer program product for coordinating an interactive computer game being played by a plurality of users with a broadcast television program, the computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code thereon, including:

program code that simulates a virtual environment;

program code for assigning to each of the plurality of users a active region in the virtual environment that the user can control and in which the user can create a character, wherein the active region is smaller than the entire virtual environment;

program code for assigning to the broadcast program an active region in the virtual environment wherein the active region is smaller than the entire virtual environment and wherein at least a portion of the broadcast active region is displayed as part of the broadcast television program and can be seen by television viewers using conventional television receivers; and

program code for selecting at least one of the plurality of users and moving at least one character in the active region of the selected user to the broadcast active region so that the selected user can interact with the broadcast television program.

36. The computer program product according to claim 35 wherein the selecting program code comprises program code for moving the active region of the selected user so that at least a portion of the selected user'"'"'s active region coincides with at least a portion of the broadcast active region.

37. The computer program product according to claim 35 wherein the selecting program code comprises program code for moving characters from the active region of the selected user from the selected user'"'"'s active region to the broadcast active region.

38. A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave for coordinating an interactive computer game being played by a plurality of users with a broadcast television program, the computer data signal comprising:

program code that simulates a virtual environment;

program code for assigning to each of the plurality of users a active region in the virtual environment that the user can control and in which the user can create a character, wherein the active region is smaller than the entire virtual environment;

program code for assigning to the broadcast program an active region in the virtual environment wherein the active region is smaller than the entire virtual environment and wherein at least a portion of the broadcast active region appears on the broadcast television program; and

program code for selecting at least one of the plurality of users and moving at least one character in the active region of the selected user to the broadcast active region so that the selected user can interact with the broadcast television program.

39. The computer data signal according to claim 38 wherein the selecting program code comprises program code for moving the active region of the selected user so that at least a portion of the selected user'"'"'s active region coincides with at least a portion of the broadcast active region.

40. The computer data signal according to claim 38 wherein the selecting program code comprises program code for moving characters from the active region of the selected user from the selected user'"'"'s active region to the broadcast active region.

41. A method for coordinating an interactive computer game being played by a plurality of users with a broadcast television program, comprising:

(a) simulating a virtual environment;

(b) assigning to the broadcast program an active region in the virtual environment wherein at least a portion of the broadcast active region appears on the broadcast television program

(c) providing to each user a mechanism for creating a character by assigning to the character characteristics and parameters, the character thereafter operating autonomously; and

(d) selecting at least one of the plurality of users and displaying at least one character created by the selected user in the broadcast active region so that the at least one character and the broadcast active region are displayed as part of the broadcast television program and can be seen by television viewers using conventional television receivers and the selected user can interact with the broadcast television program.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein step (d) comprises obtaining the at least one character from the selected user on a portable storage medium.

43. The method of claim 41 wherein step (d) comprises obtaining the at least one character from the selected user via a web site.

44. A method for coordinating an interactive computer game being played by a plurality of users with a broadcast television program, comprising:

(a) simulating a virtual environment;

(b) assigning to each of the plurality of users a active region in the virtual environment that the user can control and in which the user can create a character, wherein the active region is smaller than the entire virtual environment;

(c) assigning to the broadcast program an active region in the virtual environment wherein the active region is smaller than the entire virtual environment and wherein at least a portion of the broadcast active region is displayed as part of the broadcast television program and can be seen by viewers using receivers that display streamed video data; and

(d) selecting at least one of the plurality of users and moving at least one character in the active region of the selected user to the broadcast active region so that the selected user can interact with the broadcast television program.

45. Apparatus for coordinating an interactive computer game being played by a plurality of users on computers with a broadcast television program, comprising:

a computer game program operating in the computers of the users for simulating a virtual environment;

a mechanism in the computer game program for assigning to each of the plurality of users a active region in the virtual environment that the user can control and in which the user can create a character, wherein the active region is smaller than the entire virtual environment;

providing to the broadcast program a computer which runs the computer game program and assigns an active region in the virtual environment wherein the active region is smaller than the entire virtual environment and wherein at least a portion of the broadcast active region is displayed as part of the broadcast television program and can be seen by television viewers using receivers that display streamed video data; and

a mechanism that selects at least one of the plurality of users and moves at least one character in the active region of the selected user to the broadcast active region so that the selected user can interact with the broadcast television program.

46. A method for coordinating an interactive computer game being played by a plurality of users with a broadcast television program, comprising:

(a) simulating a virtual environment;

(b) assigning to the broadcast program an active region in the virtual environment wherein at least a portion of the broadcast active region appears on the broadcast television program

(c) providing to each user a mechanism for creating a character by assigning to the character characteristics and parameters, the character thereafter operating autonomously; and

(d) selecting at least one of the plurality of users and displaying at least one character created by the selected user in the broadcast active region so that the at least one character and the broadcast active region are displayed as part of the broadcast television program and can be seen by viewers using receivers that display streamed video data and the selected user can interact with the broadcast television program.

47. A method for coordinating an interactive computer game being played by a plurality of users with a broadcast television program, comprising:

(a) simulating a virtual environment that is displayed on the broadcast television program;

(c) providing to each user a mechanism for creating a character by assigning to the character characteristics and parameters, the character thereafter operating autonomously; and

(d) selecting at least one of the plurality of users and displaying at least one character created by the selected user in the virtual environment so that the at least one character and the virtual environment are displayed as part of the broadcast television program and can be seen by viewers using receivers that display streamed video data.