Data processing method

• US 7,145,569 B2
• Filed: 03/19/2002
• Issued: 12/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Jankus, Almis R.
• Application Number:
  US10/101,506
• Publication Number:
  US 20020135596A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,722 Days
• Field of Search: 345/418, 345/419, 345/473, 345/581, 348/565, 348/673, 348/687, 348/580, 709/231, 340/438
• US Class Current: 345/581
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/52 involving aspects of the displayed game scene
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/66 for rendering three dimensional images
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8017 Driving on land or water; Flying
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0626 for control of overall brightness
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0686 with two or more screen areas displaying information with different brightness or colours
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/10 Intensity circuits

Abstract

A program executing machine generates display image data including data of at least first and second image areas, and changes a display parameter of the second image area in accordance with a characteristic parameter detected in the first image area. The characteristic parameter is, e.g., the mean brightness value of a predetermined area in a dynamic image within the first image area. The brightness of the entire or part of the second image area is changed in accordance with the mean brightness value of the predetermined area. After detecting the mean brightness value of the predetermined area as the characteristic parameter, the program executing machine changes the brightness of a predetermined area within the second image area. A video game with higher reality and higher entertainment is thus realized.

Claims

1. A data processing method comprising the steps of:

generating display image data including data of at least first and second images;

determining a characteristic parameter of the first image; and

setting a value of a display parameter of the second image as a function only of the determined value of the characteristic parameter of the first image;

such that the value of the display parameter of the second image increases as the value of the characteristic parameter of the first image increases, and the value of the display parameter of the second image decreases as the value of the characteristic parameter of the first image decreases, wherein

the first image and the second image respectively provide a stored image in a recording means, and

the value of the characteristic parameter of the first image is determined based on first image data from the recording means.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the characteristic parameter is determined based on images composing a dynamic image.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the display parameter of the second image is changed synchronously with a change in the characteristic parameter of the first image.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the characteristic parameter is a mean brightness value of at least part of the first image providing actually-taken scenes.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the display parameter is a brightness of at least part of the second image.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

generating sound data; and

changing an output parameter for the sound data as a data results of detecting an event, said event being detected based on the value of the characteristic parameter of the first image.

20. The data processing method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

judging whether the value of the characteristic parameter of the first image has crossed a predetermined threshold; and

changing at least one element of the display of the second image when the predetermined threshold has been crossed.

21. The data processing method of claim 20, wherein the at least one element is an operation panel display, the value of the characteristic parameter is a mean brightness value, and a display light on the operation panel display is changed from an unlit condition to a lit condition when the mean brightness value falls below the predetermined threshold, and is changed from a lit condition to an unlit condition when the mean brightness value rises above the predetermined threshold.

7. A computer-readable recording medium recording thereon a data processing program to be executed on a computer, the program comprising:

a first generating step of generating display image data including data of at least first and second images;

a determining step of determining a characteristic parameter of the first image; and

a first changing step of setting a value of a display parameter of the second image as a function only of the value of the determined characteristic parameter of the first image, such that the value of the display parameter of the second image increases as the value of the characteristic parameter of the first image increases, and the value of the display parameter of the second image decreases as the value of the characteristic parameter of the first image decreases, wherein

the first image and the second image respectively provide a stored image in a recording means, and

the value of the characteristic parameter of the first image is determined based on first image data from the recording means.

8. The medium according to claim 7, wherein, in the determining step, the characteristic parameter is determined based on images composing a dynamic image.

9. The medium according to claim 7, wherein, in the first changing step, the display parameter of the second image is changed synchronously with a change in the characteristic parameter of the first image.

10. The medium according to claim 7, wherein, in the determining step, a mean brightness value of at least part of the first image providing actually-taken scenes is determined as the characteristic parameter of the first image.

11. The medium according to claim 7, wherein, in the first changing step, a brightness of at least part of the second image is changed as the display parameter of the second image.

12. The medium according to claim 7, wherein the program further comprising:

a second generating step of generating sound data; and

a second changing step of changing an output parameter for the sound data as a result of detecting an event, said event being detected based on the value of the characteristic parameter of the first image.

13. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a first generating unit, that generates display image data including data of at least first and second images;

a determining unit, that determines a value of a characteristic parameter of the first image; and

a first changing unit, that sets a value of a display parameter of the second image as a function only of the value of the determined characteristic parameter of the first image, such that the value of the display parameter of the second image increases as the value of the characteristic parameter of the first image increases, and the value of the display parameter of the second image decreases as the value of the characteristic parameter of the first image decreases, wherein

the first image and the second image respectively provide a stored image in a recording means, and

the value of the characteristic parameter of the first image is determined based on first image data from the recording means.

14. The information processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the determining unit determines the characteristic parameter based on images composing a dynamic image.

15. The information processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the first changing unit changes the display parameter of the second image synchronously with a change in the characteristic parameter of the first image.

16. The information processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the determining unit determines a mean brightness value of at least part of the first image providing actually-taken scenes, as the characteristic parameter of the first image.

17. The information processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the first changing unit changes a brightness of at least part of the second image as the display parameter of the second image.

18. The information processing apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising:

a second generating unit, that generates sound data; and

a second changing unit, that changes an output parameter for the sound data as a result of detecting an event, said event being detected based on the value of the characteristic parameter of the first image.

22. The information processing apparatus of claim 13, wherein:

the determining unit further determines whether the value of the characteristic parameter of the first image has crossed a predetermined threshold; and

the first changing unit changes at least one element of the display of the second image when the predetermined threshold has been crossed.

23. The information processing apparatus of claim 22, wherein the at least one element is an operation panel display, the value of the characteristic parameter is a mean brightness value, and a display light an the operation panel display is changed from an unlit condition to a lit condition when the mean brightness value falls below the predetermined threshold, and is changed from a lit condition to an unlit condition when the mean brightness value rises above the predetermined threshold.

19. A computer executing a data processing program, the data processing program performing the steps of:

generating display image data including data of at least first and second images;

determining a value of a characteristic parameter of the first image; and

setting a value of a display parameter of the second image as a function only of the value of the determined characteristic parameter of the first image, such that the value of the display parameter of the second image increases as the value of the characteristic parameter of the first image increases, and the value of the display parameter of the second image decreases as the value of the characteristic parameter of the first image decreases, wherein

the first image and the second image respectively provide a stored image in a recording means, and

the value of the characteristic parameter of the first image is determined based on first image data from the recording means.