Entertainment system including a vehicle with a simulation mode

• US 7,657,358 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2005
• Issued: 02/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Greycell LLC
• Original Assignee: Greycell LLC
• Inventors: Koenigsknecht, Tony, Baur, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Black; Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chen; Shelley
• Application Number:
  US11/156,218
• Publication Number:
  US 20060004495A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,691 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1
• US Class Current: 701/70
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 25/00 Autocar-like self-drivers; Runways therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 33/00 Devices allowing competitions between several persons, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 Sports

Abstract

The entertainment system of the preferred embodiment comprises a first vehicle including a user interface adapted to accept a vehicle input from a first user. The first vehicle further includes an event sensor adapted to sense a first trigger event, and a processor connected to the user interface and to the event sensor and adapted to operate in the following modes: normal mode and simulation mode. In the normal mode, the processor controls the first vehicle based substantially on the vehicle input from the first user. In the simulation mode, the processor controls the first vehicle based on a modification of the vehicle input from the first user according to a first rule, which simulates a first physical event.

Claims

1. An entertainment system, comprising:

a first vehicle that transports a first user including;

a user interface adapted to accept a vehicle input from the first user;

an event sensor adapted to sense a plurality of trigger events;

a steering subsystem that is adapted to allow steering of the first vehicle and includes a disabled mode that reduces control of the first user over the steering of the vehicle;

a propulsion subsystem that is adapted to propel the vehicle and includes a disabled mode that reduces control of the first user over the propulsion of the vehicle, and includes an enhanced mode that increases input to the propulsion system;

a processor connected to the user interface and to the event sensor, and adapted to operate in the following modes;

normal mode—

wherein the processor controls the first vehicle based substantially on the vehicle input from the first user; and

a plurality of simulation modes—

wherein the processor controls at least one of the steering subsystem and the propulsion subsystem of the first vehicle based on a modification of the vehicle input from the first user according to simulate a physical event;

wherein the plurality of simulation modes include;

a reduced traction simulation that activates the disabled mode of the steering subsystem,

a disabled simulation that activates the disabled mode of the propulsion subsystem, and

a turbo boost simulation that activates the enhanced mode of the propulsion subsystem;

a plurality of event elements separate from the first vehicle and adapted to communicate a trigger event to the event sensor;

wherein the processor transitions from normal mode to a simulation mode upon the sensing by the event sensor of a trigger event communicated from an event element.

2. The entertainment system of claim 1 wherein an event element of the plurality of event elements is a physical barrier, wherein the event sensor is adapted to sense contact between the first vehicle and the physical barrier, wherein a trigger event is a contact between the first vehicle and the physical barrier, wherein the disabled simulation mode is used to simulate a physical event of a crash of the vehicle.

3. The entertainment system of claim 1 wherein the event element is adapted to transmit a signal, wherein the event sensor is adapted to receive the signal.

4. The entertainment system of claim 3 wherein the event element is a simulated weapon adapted to be controlled by a user other than the first user and that transmits a weapon signal.

5. The entertainment system of claim 4 wherein the event element is further adapted to be modified by one of a moderator and a spectator.

6. The entertainment system of claim 3 wherein the event element is further adapted to be modified by the first user.

7. The entertainment system of claim 6 wherein the event sensor is further adapted to transmit an acknowledgement signal to the event element upon the successful receipt of the signal from the event element.

8. The entertainment system of claim 7 wherein the event element is further adapted to temporarily cease transmission of the signal upon the successful receipt of the acknowledgement signal from the event sensor.

9. The entertainment system of claim 1 wherein the processor transitions from operating in the normal mode to operating in the simulation mode upon the sensing by the event sensor of a first trigger event.

10. The entertainment system of claim 1 wherein the user interface includes an activation device adapted to be activated by a user, and wherein the processor operates in the normal mode until the sensing by the event sensor of a first trigger event and the activation by the user of the activation device.

11. The entertainment system of claim 1 wherein the event sensor is further adapted to sense a second trigger event;

and wherein the processor transitions from operating in the normal mode to operating in the simulation mode upon the sensing by the event sensor of a first trigger event and transitions from operating in the simulation mode to operating in the normal mode upon the sensing by the event sensor of a second trigger event.

12. The entertainment system of claim 1 further comprising a memory device adapted to store the trigger events experienced by the first user during a particular round;

wherein the first user may retrieve the stored trigger events thereby affecting the normal mode of the processor for the first vehicle of the first user in subsequent rounds.

13. The entertainment system of claim 1 further comprising:

a second vehicle including;

a user interface adapted to accept a vehicle input from a second user;

an event sensor adapted to sense the first trigger event;

a processor connected to the user interface and to the event sensor, and adapted to operate in the following modes;

normal mode—

wherein the processor controls the second vehicle based substantially on the vehicle input from the second user; and

simulation mode—

wherein the processor controls the second vehicle based on a modification of the vehicle input from the second user according to the first rule, which simulates a first physical event.

14. The entertainment system of claim 13 wherein the first vehicle further includes a simulated weapon adapted to transmit a weapon signal, wherein the event sensor of the second vehicle is adapted to receive the weapon signal.

15. The entertainment system of claim 13 further comprising a central processor separate from the first vehicle and the second vehicle, wherein the central processor is adapted to function as the processor for both the first vehicle and the second vehicle.

16. The entertainment system of claim 1 further including a second vehicle that transports a second user, wherein the second vehicle is substantially identical to the first vehicle.

17. The entertainment system of claim 1 wherein the processor transitions from operating in the normal mode to operating in the simulation mode upon the sensing by the event sensor of a trigger event communicated by an event element.

18. The entertainment system of claim 1 wherein the user interface includes an activation device adapted to be activated by a user, and wherein the processor operates in the normal mode until the sensing by the event sensor of a trigger event communicated by an event element and the activation by the user of the activation device.

19. The entertainment system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of trigger events includes a first trigger even and a second trigger event;

and wherein the processor transitions from operating in the normal mode to operating in the simulation mode upon the sensing by the event sensor of the first trigger event communicated by an event element and transitions from operating in the simulation mode to operating in the normal mode upon the sensing by the event sensor of the second trigger event communicated by an event element.

20. The entertainment system of claim 1 wherein the enhanced mode of the propulsion system is adapted to increase input of the propulsion subsystem for at least one of increased acceleration and increased top speed.

21. The entertainment system of claim 1 wherein the event element transmits a physical element and the event sensor transitions from normal mode to simulation mode based on sensing the physical element.

22. The entertainment system of claim 21 wherein the physical element is a projectile.

23. The entertainment system of claim 3 wherein the processor transitions from operating in the normal mode to operating in the simulation mode upon the event sensor receiving the signal transmitted by the first event element.

24. The entertainment system of claim 7 wherein the event element temporarily ceases transmission of the signal when an acknowledge signal is received.