Incorporating a personalized wireframe image in a computer software application

• US 6,816,159 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2001
• Issued: 11/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alayah Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Christine M. Solazzi
• Inventors: Solazzi, Christine M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): Santiago, Enrique L
• Application Number:
  US10/013,383
• Publication Number:
  US 20030107570A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,065 Days
• Field of Search: 345/420, 345/619, 345/629, 345/630, 345/632, 345/633, 345/382, 345/419, 345/423, 345/427, 345/428, 345/581, 345/582, 345/606, 345/623, 345/624, 345/625, 345/634, 345/646, 345/647, 345/473, 345/706, 345/757, 463/30, 463/32, 463/33
• US Class Current: 345/419
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/20 Finite element generation, e.g. wire-frame surface description, tesselation

Abstract

A method and system for incorporating a personalized wireframe image within a computer software application. The method can include comparing an acquired image of a computer software application user with one or more pre-stored wireframe images in an image database. One of the pre-stored wireframe images can be selected which has image attributes similar to attributes of the acquired image. The selected wireframe image can be modified, the modification creating the personalized wireframe image of the user. Finally, the personalized wireframe image can be incorporated as a character within the computer software application. For example, the computer software application can be a computer gaming application.

Claims

1. A method for incorporating a personalized wireframe image within a computer software application, the method comprising:

comparing an acquired image of a computer software application user with a plurality of pre-stored wireframe images in an image database;

selecting one of said pre-stored wireframe images having image attributes which are similar to attributes of said acquired image;

modifying said selected wireframe image, said modification creating the personalized wireframe image of said user; and

incorporating the personalized wireframe image as a character within the computer software application.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said modifying step further comprises adding image attributes to said transformed image, said image attributes comprising at least one of an age, gender, race, weight, height, body type, skin tone, hair style, ears, moustache type, moustache color, beard type, beard color, eye type, eye color, clothing type, clothing color, foot size, footwear size, footwear color, hat type, and hat size attribute.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said incorporating step comprises the adding the personalized wireframe image to a computer game as a character within said game.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising acquiring said acquired image using an optical imaging device.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising transforming said acquired image into a wireframe image prior to said comparison step.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said comparison step comprises comparing said transformed image with a plurality of pre-stored wireframe images in an image database.

7. A method for incorporating a personalized wireframe image within a computer software application, the method comprising:

comparing an acquired image of a computer software application user with a plurality of pre-stored images in an image database;

selecting one of said pre-stored images having image attributes which are similar to attributes of said acquired image;

transforming said selected image into a three-dimensional wireframe image;

modifying said transformed image, said modification creating the personalized wireframe image of said user; and

incorporating the personalized wireframe image as a character within the computer software application.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said modifying step further comprises adding image attributes to said transformed image, said image attributes comprising at least one of an age, gender, race, weight, height, body type, skin tone, hair style, ears, moustache type, moustache color, beard type, beard color, eye type, eye color, clothing type, clothing color, foot size, footwear size, footwear color, hat type, and hat size attribute.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein said incorporating step comprises the adding the personalized wireframe image to a computer game as a character within said game.

10. The method according to claim 7, further comprising acquiring said acquired image using an optical imaging device.

11. A personalized wireframe imaging system comprising:

an image acquisition system;

a database of pre-stored wireframe images;

an image comparator configured to select pre-stored wireframe images having image attributes which are similar to image attributes associated with images acquired through said image acquisition system;

an image enhancer through which end-users can modify said selected pre-stored wireframe images with additional image attributes; and

,

a computer gaming application interface through which said modified wireframe images can be incorporated into corresponding computer gaming applications.

12. A machine readable storage having stored thereon a computer program for incorporating a personalized wireframe image within a computer software application, the computer program comprising a routine set of instructions for causing the machine to perform the steps of:

comparing an acquired image of a computer software application user with a plurality of pre-stored wireframe images in an image database;

selecting one of said pre-stored wireframe images having image attributes which are similar to attributes of said acquired image;

modifying said selected wireframe image, said modification creating the personalized wireframe image of said user; and

incorporating the personalized wireframe image as a character within the computer software application.

13. The machine readable storage according to claim 12, wherein said modifying step further comprises adding image attributes to said transformed image, said image attributes comprising at least one of an age, gender, race, weight, height, body type, skin tone, hair style, ears, moustache type, moustache color, beard type, beard color, eye type, eye color, clothing type, clothing color, foot size, footwear size, footwear color, hat type, and hat size attribute.

14. The machine readable storage according to claim 12, wherein said incorporating step comprises the adding the personalized wireframe image to a computer game as a character within said game.

15. The machine readable storage according to claim 12, further comprising transforming said acquired image into a wireframe image prior to said comparison step.

16. The machine readable storage according to claim 15, wherein said comparison step comprises comparing said transformed image with a plurality of pre-stored wireframe images in an image database.

17. A machine readable storage having stored thereon a computer program for incorporating a personalized wireframe image within a computer software application, the computer program comprising a routine set of instructions for causing the machine to perform the steps of:

comparing an acquired image of a computer software application user with a plurality of pre-stored images in an image database;

selecting one of said pre-stored images having image attributes which are similar to attributes of said acquired image;

transforming said selected image into a three-dimensional wireframe image;

modifying said transformed image, said modification creating the personalized wireframe image of said user; and

incorporating the personalized wireframe image as a character within the computer software application.

18. The machine readable storage according to claim 17, wherein said modifying step further comprises adding image attributes to said transformed image, said image attributes comprising at least one of an age, gender, race, weight, height, body type, skin tone, hair style, ears, moustache type, moustache color, beard type, beard color, eye type, eye color, clothing type, clothing color, foot size, footwear size, footwear color, hat type, and hat size attribute.

19. The machine readable storage according to claim 17, wherein said incorporating step comprises the adding the personalized wireframe image to a computer game as a character within said game.