Using existing videogames for physical training and rehabilitation

• US 6,712,692 B2
• Filed: 01/03/2002
• Issued: 03/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Faisman, Alexander, Fairweather, Peter Gustav, Basson, Sara H., Kanevsky, Dimitri
• Primary Examiner(s): Sager, Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): CAPRON, AARON J
• Application Number:
  US10/039,962
• Publication Number:
  US 20030125099A1
• Time in Patent Office: 817 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1-9, 463/36-40, 273/317, 273/440, 273/440.1, 482/8-9, 482/900-902, 434/247-258
• US Class Current: 463/7
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/212 using sensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat or leg activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/42 by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1012 involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1093 using visible light
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands

Abstract

Information is gathered about movements of a person, which could be an adult or child. This information is mapped to one or more game controller commands. The game controller commands are coupled to a videogame, and the videogame responds to the game controller commands as it would normally.

Claims

1. A method for using a videogame for physical training and rehabilitation, the method comprising the steps of:

identifying at least one new type of movement of a person that is not a currently recognized movement;

mapping the at least one new type of movement of a person into at least one game controller command; and

communicating the game controller command to the videogame.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of identifying further comprises the steps of:

capturing video of the person; and

determining a cluster movement, corresponding to the at least one new type of movement, by examining the video.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of identifying further comprises the steps of:

gathering sensor data from at least one sensor attached to the person; and

determining a cluster movement, corresponding to the at least one new type of movement, by examining the sensor data.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of mapping further comprises the steps of:

determining at least one cluster from the information corresponding to the at least one movement of the person, wherein the cluster corresponds to a particular range of movements of a the person;

comparing the at least one cluster to one of a plurality of classes to determine if the cluster belongs to one of the classes, wherein each class corresponds to a second range of movements of a person that have a predetermined importance;

assigning the cluster to a new one of the classes when a comparison between the cluster and the one class meets predetermined criteria; and

determining the at least one game controller command based on the new class.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of assigning the class to the at least one game controller command.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of comparing the cluster further comprises the step of determining the predetermined importance by determining how often the cluster occurs.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of comparing the cluster further comprises the step of determining the predetermined importance by assigning the predetermined importance to a class.

8. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of determining an intensity of the one class.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of communicating further comprises the step of communicating the at least one game controller command to a computer system, wherein the computer system provides the at least one game controller command to the videogame.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of communicating further comprises the step of providing the at least one game controller command to the videogame.

11. A method for using a videogame for physical training and rehabilitation, the method comprising the steps of:

identifying at least one new type of movement of a person that is not a currently recognized movement;

associating the at least one new type of movement of a person with at least one cluster, each cluster corresponding to a range of movements of a person;

associating the at least one cluster with a new one of a plurality of classes, each class corresponding to a cluster of movements of the person that has a predetermined importance and that correspond to recognized movements of the person;

associating the new class with at least one game controller command; and

communicating the game controller command to the videogame.

12. A system for using a videogame for physical training and rehabilitation, the system comprising:

a computer system comprising;

a memory that stores computer-readable code; and

a processor operatively coupled to the memory, the processor configured to implement the computer-readable code, the computer-readable code configured to;

identify at least one new type of movement of a person that is not a currently recognized movement;

map the at least one new type of movement of a person into at least one game controller command; and

communicate the game controller command to the videogame.

13. A system for using a videogame for physical training and rehabilitation, the system comprising:

a first computer system comprising;

a first memory that stores first computer-readable code; and

a first processor operatively coupled to the first memory, the first processor configured to implement the first computer-readable code, the first computer-readable code configured to;

accept game controller commands from a game controller;

provide game controller commands to the videogame; and

execute the videogame; and

a second computer system coupled to the first computer system and comprising;

a second memory that stores second computer-readable code; and

a second processor operatively coupled to the second memory, the second processor configured to implement the second computer-readable code, the second computer-readable code configured to;

 

identify at least one new type of movement of a person that is not a currently recognized movement;

 

map the at least one new type of movement of a person into at least one game controller command; and

 

communicate the game controller command to the first computer system.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising at least one video camera, the second computer system coupled to the at least one video camera, and wherein the second computer-readable code is further configured, when gathering information, to:

capture video, from the at least one video camera, of the person; and

determine a cluster movement, corresponding to the at least one new type of movement, by examining the video.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the second computer comprises two modes, wherein in the first mode the second computer-readable code is configured to gather, map, and communicate, and wherein in the second mode the second computer-readable code is configured to pass game controller commands from a game controller to the first computer system, wherein the game controller commands are passed unaltered.

16. The system of claim 13, further comprising at least one sensor attached to the person, the second computer system coupled to the at least one sensor, and wherein the second computer-readable code is further configured, when gathering information, to:

gather sensor data from the at least one sensor; and

determine a cluster movement, corresponding to the at least one new type of movement, by examining the sensor data.

17. The system of claim 13, further comprising a database of classes, and wherein the second computer-readable code is further configured, when mapping, to:

determine at least one cluster from the information corresponding to the at least one movement of the person, wherein the cluster corresponds to a particular range of movements of the person;

compare the at least one cluster to one of a plurality of classes in the database of classes to determine if the cluster belongs to one of the classes, wherein each class corresponds to a second range of movements of a person that have a predetermined importance;

assign the cluster to a new one of the classes when a comparison between the cluster and the one class meets predetermined criteria; and

determine the at least one game controller command based on the new class.

18. An article of manufacture comprising:

a computer readable medium having computer-readable code means embodied thereon, the computer-readable program code means comprising;

a step to identify at Least one new type of movement of a person that is not a currently recognized movement;

a step to map the at least one new type of movement of a person into at least one game controller command; and

a step to communicate the game controller command to a videogame.