Sequencing input control stick

• US 7,109,994 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2003
• Issued: 09/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electronic Arts Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Electronic Arts Incorporated
• Inventors: O'Brien, Sean, Bollo, David, Batty, Todd
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kimbinh T.
• Application Number:
  US10/441,368
• Publication Number:
  US 20040233199A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,218 Days
• Field of Search: 345/473, 345161-162, 345/419, 463/38, 700/83
• US Class Current: 345/473
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• 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 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/63 for controlling the execution of the game in time

Abstract

A method of controlling an animation character with a controller that includes determining a position of the controller and determining a current state of the animation character. A history of positions of the controller is determined and compared with a set of history patterns based upon the current state of the animation character. An animation sequence is initiated based upon any matched history patterns.

Claims

1. A method of controlling an animation character with a controller, the method comprising:

determining a position of the controller;

determining a current state of the animation character;

determining a history of discrete positions of the controller;

comparing the history of discrete positions of the controller with a set of discrete history patterns based upon the current state of the animation character;

determining whether the history of discrete positions matches at least one of the set of discrete history patterns; and

initiating an animation sequence for execution by the animation character based upon any matched history patterns.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the animation sequence is initiated based upon a first matched history pattern.

3. A method in accordance with claim 2 wherein the history of positions is compared.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising determining an amount of time the controller spent in each position for the history of positions and including the amount of time in the comparison.

5. A method in accordance with claim 4 wherein the amount of time is categorized as one of either long or short.

6. A method in accordance with claim 5 wherein long is defined as greater than or equal to one second.

7. A method in accordance with claim 5 wherein short is defined as less than or equal to one second.

8. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein discrete positions are classified within one of five zones.

9. A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein the controller comprises a control stick and the zones are classified as up, down, left, right and center.

10. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein if no history pattern is matched, then control of the animation character is automatically handled by a central controller.

11. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the animation sequence comprises a sequence of moves.

12. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the animation comprises a single move.

13. A system for executing animation sequences, the system comprising:

a central controller;

a display communicatively coupled to the central controller;

at least one controller communicatively coupled to the central controller;

storage within the central controller for storing a history of discrete positions of the at least one controller;

storage within the central controller for storing a set of discrete history patterns based upon possible states of an animation character; and

processing means within the central controller for comparing the history of discrete positions with the set of history patterns and determining a state for the animation character based upon a current state of the animation character and any matched history patterns, and for initiating animation sequences for execution by the animation character based upon the determined state of the animation character.

14. A system in accordance with claim 13 wherein the controller comprises an analog controller.

15. A system in accordance with claim 13 wherein the controller comprises a digital controller.

16. A system in accordance with claim 13 wherein the controller comprises an analog and a digital controller.

17. A method of controlling an animation character with an analog controller, the method comprising:

determining a discrete position of the analog controller, wherein positions are classified within one of five zones;

determining a current state of the animation character;

determining a history of discrete positions of the analog controller that led to the current state of the animation character;

determining an amount of time the analog controller spent in each discrete position for the history of positions and including the amount of time in the history of discrete positions;

comparing the history of discrete positions and times with a set of discrete history patterns based upon the current state of the animation character; and

initiating an animation sequence for execution by the animation character based upon any matched history patterns.

18. A method in accordance with claim 17 wherein the animation sequence is initiated based upon a first matched history pattern.

19. A method in accordance with claim 18 wherein the history of positions is compared with the set of history patterns in a predetermined order.

20. A method in accordance with claim 17 wherein the amount of time is categorized as one of either long or short.

21. A method in accordance with claim 20 wherein long is defined as greater than or equal to one second.

22. A method in accordance with claim 20 wherein long is defined as greater than or equal to one second.

23. A method in accordance with claim 22 wherein the analog controller comprises a control stick and the zones are classified as up, down, left, right and center.

24. A method in accordance with claim 17 wherein if no history pattern is matched, then control of the animation character is automatically handled by a central controller.

25. A method in accordance with claim 17 wherein the animation sequence comprises a sequence of moves.

26. A method in accordance with claim 17 wherein the animation sequence comprises a single move.