Method and apparatus for generating a display signal

• US 7,095,450 B1
• Filed: 06/18/1998
• Issued: 08/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Two-Way Media Ltd
• Inventors: Kydd, Richard Andrew, Cornwell, Simon Anthony Vivian, Holmes, Steven, Wright, David J
• Primary Examiner(s): Yenke, Brian P.
• Application Number:
  US09/446,296
• Time in Patent Office: 2,987 Days
• Field of Search: 348/578, 348580- 5, 348/586, 348/588, 348/600, 348/562, 348563-565, 348/552, 348/581, 345629-630, 345/640, 345632-633, 725/110, 725/139, 715/719, 715/722, 715/764, 715/768, 715/790, 715/794, 715/797, 715/849, 715/848
• US Class Current: 348/586
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/338 using television networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/52 involving aspects of the displayed game scene
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/409 Data transfer via television network
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/66 for rendering three dimensional images
• 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: H04N 9/74 for obtaining special effects H04N9/65 - H04N9/73 take precedence

Abstract

Apparatus for interactively generating a display signal. The apparatus comprises: a receiver (2) for receiving a broadcast signal (15), the broadcast signal comprising a plurality of datastreams each including image data defining a background object (22–270), and control parameters (28–39); a foreground computer generated imagery (CGI) device (3) for generating a foreground computer generated object (CGO); a mixer (4) for combining the foreground CGO with background object image data to generate the display signal; and interaction means (3) for receiving the control parameters from the receiver, monitoring the position of the foreground CGO, and adapting the display signal with reference to the monitored position of the foreground CGO and the received control parameters.

Claims

1. Apparatus for interactively generating a display signal, the apparatus comprising:

a receiver receiving a broadcast signal, the broadcast signal comprising at least one data stream including a sequence of video frames, data defining a background object corresponding to each video frame, and control parameters; and

a processing system generating a foreground computer generated object (CGO), monitoring the position of the foreground CGO with respect to the background object, and combining the foreground CGO with the background object in accordance with the received control parameters and the monitored position of the foreground CGO to generate the display signal.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the control parameters define the position(s) of one or more areas of interaction in the background object, and wherein the processing system modifies the display signal when the position of the foreground CGO coincides with the position of a selected area of interaction.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the control parameters define one or more rules associated with each area of interaction, and wherein the processing system modifies the display signal in accordance with each rule associated with the selected area of interaction.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the processing system modifies the display signal by modifying the foreground CGO.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the broadcast signal comprises a plurality of data streams, the receiver being responsive to an upload request signal to select one of the data streams, and wherein the apparatus further comprises means for inputting upload request signals to the receiver in response to input from a user.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the processing system modifies the display signal by inputting an upload request signal to the receiver.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a user operable controller for controlling the foreground CGO generated by the processing system.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the control parameters define the three-dimensional position of a feature in the background object, and wherein the processing system causes the foreground CGO to be at least partially obscured when the monitored position of the foreground CGO lies behind the three-dimensional position of the feature.

9. A method of interactively generating a display signal, the method comprising:

receiving a broadcast signal, the broadcast signal comprising at least one data streams including a sequence of video frames, data defining a background object corresponding to each video frame, and control parameters;

generating a foreground computer generated object (CGO);

monitoring the position of the frequent CGO with respect to the background object;

combining the foreground CGO with the background object in accordance with the received control parameters; and

the monitored position of the foreground CGO to generate the display signal.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the broadcast signal comprises a plurality of data streams, the method further comprising selecting one of the data streams to be received.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein each data stream includes a sequence of video frames each representing alternative views relating to a common subject.

12. A method according to claim 10, wherein the selecting step occurs when the foreground CGO is located at a predetermined position relative to the background object.