Virtual game instructor

• US 8,202,161 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2009
• Issued: 06/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: Leake, Brian, Koo, Chang Hoh
• Primary Examiner(s): Laneau, Ronald
• Application Number:
  US12/604,884
• Publication Number:
  US 20110098109A1
• Time in Patent Office: 970 Days
• Field of Search: 463 30- 33, 463/16, 463/20, 463/25, 705/1
• US Class Current: 463/30
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0096 using performance related parameters for controlling electronic or video games or avatars
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/428 involving motion or position input signals, e.g. signals representing the rotation of an input controller or a player's arm motions sensed by accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/44 involving timing of operations, e.g. performing an action within a time slot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/46 Computing the game score
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/814 Musical performances, e.g. by evaluating the player's ability to follow a notation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1093 using visible light
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5553 user representation in the game field, e.g. avatar
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/61 Score computation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/638 according to the timing of operation or a time limit
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8047 Music games

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide a virtual game instructor. According to various embodiments of the invention, the virtual game instructor is configured to provide a convenient and easy to follow tutorial instruction session for completing various game movements. Embodiments of the invention provide players with the ability to accurately compare their movements in real-time with the virtual instructor, thus facilitating learning and performing even complex game moves more easily.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a gaming device having one or more processors and one or more modules of computer program code stored in a non-transitory computer readable medium and executable by the one or more processors, the one or more modules comprising;

computer program code configured to enable receipt and storage of motion captured data relating to one or more player movements;

computer program code configured to provide to a display device display instructions corresponding to one or more player avatars according to the received motion captured data relating to one or more player movements;

computer program code configured to provide to the display device display instructions corresponding to one or more virtual instructors; and

computer program code configured to compare the motion captured data relating to one or more player movements to one or more virtual instructor movements.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the one or more modules further comprise computer program code configured to provide display instructions for real-time display of one or more player avatar movements and the one or more virtual instructor movements on the display device.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the one or more modules further comprise computer program code configured to, in response to receiving motion captured data relating to one or more player movements matching a first virtual instructor movement within a predetermined threshold, providing display instructions relating to a second virtual instructor movement to the display device.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the predetermined threshold is motion based.

5. The system according to claim 3, wherein the predetermined threshold is time based.

6. The system according to claim 3, wherein the predetermined threshold is both motion based and time based.

7. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a motion capture system configured to capture motion captured data relating to one or more player movements and transmit the motion captured data to the gaming device.

8. The system according to claim 3, wherein the one or more modules further comprise computer program code configured to, in response to receiving motion captured data relating to one or more player movements not matching the first virtual instructor movement within a predetermined threshold, again providing display instructions relating to the first virtual instructor movement to the display device.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the virtual instructor movement is a game movement.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the virtual instructor movement is a dance game movement.

11. An apparatus comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more non-transitory computer readable storage mediums having computer program instructions embodied therewith, the computer program instructions being executable by the one or more processors and comprising;

computer program code configured to enable receipt and storage of motion captured data relating to one or more player movements;

computer program code configured to provide to a display device display instructions corresponding to one or more player avatars according to the received motion captured data relating to one or more player movements;

computer program code configured to provide to the display device display instructions corresponding to one or more virtual instructors; and

computer program code configured to compare the motion captured data relating to one or more player movements to one or more virtual instructor movements.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the computer program instructions further comprise computer program code configured to provide display instructions for real-time display of one or more player avatar movements and the one or more virtual instructor movements on the display device.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the computer program instructions further comprise computer program code configured to, in response to receiving motion captured data relating to one or more player movements matching a first virtual instructor movement within a predetermined threshold, providing display instructions relating to a second virtual instructor movement to the display device.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the predetermined threshold is motion based.

15. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the predetermined threshold is time based.

16. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the predetermined threshold is both motion based and time based.

17. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the computer program instructions further comprise computer program code configured to, in response to receiving motion captured data relating to one or more player movements not matching the first virtual instructor movement within a predetermined threshold, again providing display instructions relating to the first virtual instructor movement to the display device.

18. The system according to claim 11, wherein the virtual instructor movement is a game movement.

19. The system according to claim 11, wherein the virtual instructor movement is a dance game movement.

20. A computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code comprising;

computer program code configured to enable receipt and storage of motion captured data relating to one or more player movements;

computer program code configured to provide to a display device display instructions corresponding to one or more player avatars according to the received motion captured data relating to one or more player movements;

computer program code configured to provide to the display device display instructions corresponding to one or more virtual instructors; and

computer program code configured to compare the motion captured data relating to one or more player movements to one or more virtual instructor movements.