Computer game

• US 6,612,925 B1
• Filed: 06/20/2001
• Issued: 09/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Covepath Limited
• Original Assignee: Covepath Limited
• Inventors: Forsberg, Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancene, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nicolas, Frederick C.
• Application Number:
  US09/787,862
• Time in Patent Office: 804 Days
• Field of Search: 463/6, 463/1, 434/29, 434/37, 434/62
• US Class Current: 463/6
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/216 using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/217 using environment-related information, i.e. information generated otherwise than by the player, e.g. ambient temperature or humidity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/57 Simulating properties, behaviour or motion of objects in the game world, e.g. computing tyre load in a car race game A63F13/56 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/65 automatically by game devices or servers from real world data, e.g. measurement in live racing competition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/803 Driving vehicles or craft, e.g. cars, airplanes, ships, robots or tanks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/64 for computing dynamical parameters of game objects, e.g. motion determination or computation of frictional forces for a virtual car
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/69 Involving elements of the real world in the game world, e.g. measurement in live races, real video
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8017 Driving on land or water; Flying

Abstract

Input data comprising dynamics data taken from at least one actual dynamic vehicle, and position data of the at least one actual dynamic vehicle, and data relating to the environment of the at least one actual dynamic vehicle is acquired and at least the dynamics data is utilized by computer game software to generate a user controlled dynamic vehicle. At least the environmental data is converted into a form suitable for display on a display device. User input means provides control signals for the user controlled vehicle to facilitate competing in the same environment as the actual dynamic vehicle as reproduced on a display device before the user. More particularly, the input data is converted into a graphical form to display the at least one actual dynamic vehicle in their actual environment or as modified to accommodate the position of the at least one user controlled dynamic vehicle.

Claims

1. A computer game comprising game software, at least one display device, at least one user input means, and an input data set comprising dynamics data taken from at least one actual dynamic object, position data of the at least one actual dynamic object, and data relating to an environment of the at least one actual dynamic object, at least the environment data being converted into a pictorial form suitable for display on the at least one display device, and wherein the game software operates to generate a simulated user controlled dynamic object utilizing at least the dynamics data of the input data set, the input data set of the at least one actual dynamic object is used to set performance limitations of the simulated user controlled dynamic object and wherein the at least one user input means provides control signals for the simulated user controlled dynamic object to facilitate competing with the at least one actual dynamic object in the pictorial form as portrayed on the at least one display device.

2. A computer game as claimed in claim 1, in which the game software utilizes both dynamics data and position data.

3. A computer game as claimed in claim 1, in which the input data set is converted into a graphical or pictorial form to display each at least one actual dynamic object in its actual environment.

4. A computer game as claimed in claim 3 in which the position data of each at least one actual dynamic object is modified to accommodate display of the simulated user controlled dynamic object in the pictorial form as portrayed on the at least one display device.

5. A computer game as claimed in claim 1 in which the dynamics data of the at least one actual dynamic object is acquired by apparatus installed on at least one actual dynamic object.

6. A computer game as claimed in claim 5 in which the apparatus comprises sensors to measure at least one of speed, pitch, roll, heading, 3-D G forces, yaw angle and acceleration.

7. A computer game as claimed in claim 1 in which the position data of the at least one actual dynamic object is acquired by apparatus installed on at least one actual dynamic object.

8. A computer game as claimed in claim 7 in which the apparatus for acquiring position data comprises a global position system.

9. A computer game as claimed in claim 1 in which the environment data is acquired by a television camera mounted on the at least one actual dynamic object which is at least one actual dynamic vehicle.

10. A computer game as claimed in claim 1 in which the input data set is transmitted in real-time.

11. A computer game as claimed in claim 1 in which the input data set is transmitted in delayed transmission form.

12. A computer game as claimed in claim 1 in which the input data set is captured onto a data storage medium for later use.

13. A computer game as claimed in claim 1 in which the position data is gathered in real-time and is passed on without modification.

14. A computer game as claimed in claim 1 in which the dynamics data and the position data are gathered simultaneously in real-time.

15. A computer game as claimed in claim 1 in which the at least one display device is a television screen.