Method and apparatus for tutorial, self and assisted instruction directed to simulated preparation, training and competitive play and entertainment

• US 6,722,888 B1
• Filed: 11/27/2000
• Issued: 04/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Vincent J. Macri
• Original Assignee: Vincent J. Macri
• Inventors: Zilber, Paul, Macri, Vincent J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheng, Joe H.
• Application Number:
  US09/722,796
• Time in Patent Office: 1,240 Days
• Field of Search: 434/118, 434/247, 434/248, 434/251, 434/253, 434/252, 434/307.R, 434/308, 434/365, 434/62, 482/900-902, 482/4, 700/85, 700/83, 345/474, 345/758, 345/420, 345/473, 345/156, 345/475, 463/25, 473/266, 473/221, 600/544
• US Class Current: 434/247
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/24 Ice hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/428 involving motion or position input signals, e.g. signals representing the rotation of an input controller or a player's arm motions sensed by accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/807 Gliding or sliding on surfaces, e.g. using skis, skates or boards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1006 having additional degrees of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8041 Skating using skis, skates or board
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/902 Employing specific graphic or video display

Abstract

The present invention pertains to processing system use for instruction and simulated training by users controlling images capable of interactive, personal, idiosyncratic, simulated movements. The invention includes the use of individual hand held devices, personal display appliances, personal computers and other processing systems communicating displays of user controllable images to other processing systems over local area and wide area networks and by means of a variety of interfaces, networks, servers and/or intra-processing system means. Instruction and simulated training is accomplished through simulated activities including, without limitation, individual drill, cooperation and opposition.

Claims

1. A method of simulated training for at least one user using at least one processing system having at least one processor displayable user controllable image for performing interactive, personal and idiosyncratic simulated movements, communicated to at least one other processing system, said method comprised of:

generating, storing and maintaining in a memory means of said at least one processing system, said at least one processor displayable user controllable image controlled by said at least one user to perform a sequence of movements;

providing to said at least one processing system display means to display said at least one user controllable image for performing interactive, personal and idiosyncratic simulated movements;

providing to said at least one processing system input means to receive inputs from said at least one user to control said at least one user controllable image for performing said simulated movements;

constructing said at least one user controllable image to make said simulated movements controlled by said input means from said at least one user without requiring said at least one user to make corresponding physical movements;

recording and maintaining, in said memory means, a record of said user controllable image movements such that said record is modified to represent said simulated movements as controlled by said input means;

providing to said at least one processing system output means to send outputs of said controllable image movements from said memory means to said display means; and

providing to said at least one processing system communication means to send and receive said inputs and outputs to said at least one other processing system, thereby said at least one user performs said simulated training by using said at least one user controllable image to interact with at least one other user controllable image from said at least one other processing system displayed on said display means of said at least one other processing system.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said communication means of said at least one processing system is a modem, a universal serial bus, parallel port, Ethernet, optical fiber, or wireless interfaces.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said communication means of said at least one processing system are interconnected by dedicated or switched networks.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said communication means of said at least one processing system are interconnected by at least one of point to point, local area or wide area networks.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said at least one processing system provides server functions for said at least one other processing system.