Interactive entertainment system

• US 6,625,661 B1
• Filed: 06/21/1999
• Issued: 09/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kenneth G. Baldwin Jr
• Original Assignee: Kenneth G. Baldwin Jr
• Inventors: Baldwin, Kenneth G. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jean, Frantz B.
• Application Number:
  US09/336,595
• Time in Patent Office: 1,555 Days
• Field of Search: 709/250, 709/217, 709/218, 709/227, 709/228, 709/229, 709/246, 463/42, 463/43
• US Class Current: 709/250
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/77 involving data related to game devices or game servers, e.g. configuration data, software version or amount of memory
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6018 where the game content is authored by the player, e.g. level editor or by game device at runtime, e.g. level is created from music data on CD

Abstract

An interactive software system for expanding the interactive dynamics of entertainment software in which local session files from a local computer are transferred through a network to a host computer for interpretation, resulting in modification to and transmission of update files which are then stored on the local computer for integration into the entertainment session. The local computer includes an interaction sequencer which controls the use of local session files. The host computer includes an interaction interpolator, which oversees the ultimate control of the entertainment session and enhances the local session files, which provide the interaction sequencer with data as a guide for the entertainment session.

Claims

1. An interactive entertainment system for use by a player in an entertainment session, the player having specific characteristics and preferences, the interactive entertainment system, comprising:

a local computer system including local data storage, the local data storage including local session files, the local session files including log files, program files, attribute files and component files;

the attribute files containing information about the entertainment session and the player'"'"'s characteristics and preferences and also having initial default values;

entertainment software for use in the local computer;

an interaction sequencer in the local computer for receiving input signals and for transmitting output signals to change the output of the session files, the local session files being stored in the local computer and the local session files also being stored in the host computer;

a host computer system including host data storage, the host data storage including host session files, the host session files including a host session table, log files, program files, attribute files and component files;

a network interconnecting the host computer and the local computer; and

an interaction interpolator in the host computer to alter the local session files, the interaction interpolator using the host session files for the purpose of evaluation of the specific characteristics and preferences of the player, the interaction interpolator performing a comparison between the local files of the local computer and the host session table and evaluating that comparison.

2. An interaction entertainment system according to claim 1 wherein the host sessions files include a password, the password being supplied to the host session files by the local session files.

3. An interaction entertainment system according to claim 1 wherein the host session table is in the form of a local matrix.

4. An interactive entertainment system according to claim 1 wherein the local computer can operate independently of the host computer.

5. An interactive entertainment system according to claim 1 wherein:

the local computer includes a plurality of computers at different locations; and

the host computer can transfer the local session files to any computer that is a local computer.

6. An interactive entertainment-system according to claim 1 wherein:

the local computer includes local input devices for transmitting input signals from the player; and

the interaction sequencer uses the input signals from the player to change the output signals to the player.

7. An interactive entertainment system according to claim 1 wherein the attribute files are used by the interaction sequencer and the interaction interpolator for executing decisions as to what files and sequences of files will be required from the local data storage.

8. An interactive entertainment system for use by a player in an entertainment session, the player having specific characteristics and preferences, the interactive entertainment system, comprising:

a local computer system including local data storage, the local data storage including local session files, the local session files including log files, program files, attribute files and component files;

the attribute files containing information about the entertainment session and the player'"'"'s characteristics and preferences and also having initial default values, the local computer including local input devices for transmitting input signals from the player;

entertainment software for use in the local computer;

an interaction sequencer in the local computer for receiving input signals and for transmitting output signals, the interaction sequencer uses the inputs signals from the player to change the output signals to the player, the local session files being stored in the local computer and the local session files also being stored in the host computer;

a host computer system including host data storage, the host data storage including host session files, the host session files including a host session table,-log files, program files, attribute files and component files, the local session files being maintained in the host computer;

a network interconnecting the host computer and the local computer; and

an interaction interpolator in the host computer, the attribute files being used by the interaction sequencer and the interaction interpolator for executing decisions as to what files and sequences of files will be required from the local data storage, the interaction interpolator performing a comparison between the local files of the local computer and the host session table and evaluating that comparison.

9. An interactive entertainment system according to claim 8 wherein the component files contain supporting data required by the program files in support of the entertainment session including driver files, image files and audio files.

10. An interactive component system according to claim 8 wherein the log files track the progress of the session including file updates, playing responses, player selections and session events.

11. An interactive component system according to claim 8 wherein the program files support parallel processing of specialized activities including graphic images, motion audio, voice, robotic control as well as other input and output functions.

12. An interactive entertainment system for use by a player in an entertainment session, the player having specific characteristics and preferences, the interactive entertainment system, comprising:

a local computer system including local data storage, the local data storage including local session files, the local session files including log files, program files, attribute files and component files;

the attribute files containing information about the entertainment session and the player'"'"'s characteristics and preferences and also having initial default values, the local computer including local input devices for transmitting input signals from the player, the log files tracking the progress of the session including file updates, player responses, player selections and session events, the program files supporting processing of specialized activities including graphic images, motion, audio, voice, robotic control as well as input and output functions, the component files containing support data required by the program files in support of the entertainment session including driver files, image files, scene files and audio files;

entertainment software for use in the local computer;

an interaction sequencer in the local computer for receiving input signals and for transmitting output signals, the interaction sequencer using the inputs signals from the player to change the output signals to the player;

a host computer system including host data storage, the host data storage including host session files, the host session files including log files, program files, attribute files and component files, the local session files being maintained in the host computer;

a network interconnecting the host computer and the local computer; and

an interaction interpolator in the host computer, the attribute files being used by the interaction sequencer and the interaction interpolator for executing decisions as to what files and sequences of files will be required from the local data storage.