Interactive gaming apparel for interactive gaming

• US 8,206,219 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2002
• Issued: 06/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Shum, Albert, Meschter, James, Foxen, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Peter DungBa
• Assistant Examiner(s): YOO, JASSON H
• Application Number:
  US10/286,396
• Publication Number:
  US 20040087366A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,527 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/42, 463/47, 463/5, 463/33, 463/35, 463 36- 37, 463/43, 273/459, 273/460, 273/461, 434/1
• US Class Current: 463/36
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/212 using sensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat or leg activity
• 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 13/40 Processing input control signals of video game devices, e.g. signals generated by the player or derived from the environment
• 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 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 2300/1012 involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1093 using visible light
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/609 for unlocking hidden game elements, e.g. features, items, levels

Abstract

Apparel is disclosed that can be worn to assist an interactive game in tracking the movement of the wearer. More particularly, the apparel may include one or more tracking marks formed of designs, patterns, or reflective materials that can be easily tracked by an interactive game employing one or more cameras or other detectors for detecting a change in position of an object. The apparel may take the form of, for example, hats, shirts, jackets, pants, gloves, and shoes. The apparel may use reflective materials, and the interactive game can employ a camera and a light source configuration where the camera is located within the observation angle of a player employing retroreflective materials reflecting light from the light source.

Claims

1. A method of playing an interactive computer game, comprising:

donning an article of wear, the article of wear substantially permanently displaying one or more tracking marks that can be recognized by the interactive game, wherein at least one of the one or more tracking marks is knitted or woven into a material from which the article of wear is produced;

playing the interactive game by wearing the article of wear so that the interactive game recognizes at least one of the one or more tracking marks displayed by the article of wear;

wherein at least one of the one or more tracking marks conveys qualitative information to the interactive computer game as a result of motion of at least one of the one or more tracking marks;

wherein the qualitative information is interpreted by the interactive computer game as instruction; and

wherein the instruction includes a member selected from the group of;

an instruction to turn off the game, an instruction to change a type or characteristic of the game, and an instruction to input alphanumeric information.

2. The method of playing an interactive computer game recited in claim 1, wherein playing the interactive game includes moving toward or away from the interactive computer game, such that the interactive computer game can determine the movement toward or away from the interactive computer game by recognizing a change in position of at least one of the one or more tracking marks.

3. The method of playing an interactive computer game recited in claim 1, wherein playing the interactive game includes moving an extremity of the article of wear displaying at least one of the one or more tracking marks, such that the interactive computer game can determine the movement of the extremity by recognizing a change in position of at least one of the one or more tracking marks.

4. The method of playing an interactive computer game recited in claim 1, wherein playing the interactive game includes:

displaying at least one of the one or more tracking marks that is associated with qualitative information, and

employing an aspect of the game that is changed in response to recognition of the qualitative information from the at least one of the one or more tracking marks.

5. The method of playing an interactive computer game recited in claim 1, wherein the article of wear is selected from the group consisting of:

footwear, a shirt, pants, a jacket, shorts, socks, a hat, and a band.

6. The method of playing an interactive computer game recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one of the one or more tracking marks has a color that can be recognized by the interactive game.

7. The method of playing an interactive computer game recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one of the one or more tracking marks has a shape that can be recognized by the interactive game.

8. The method of playing an interactive computer game recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one of the one or more tracking marks has a reflectivity that can be recognized by the interactive game.

9. A method of providing an interactive gaming experience, comprising:

recognizing a position of a tracking mark at a first location, wherein the tracking mark is substantially permanently displayed on an article of wear by weaving or knitting the tracking mark into a material from which the article of wear is produced;

recognizing a position of the tracking mark substantially permanently displayed on the article of wear at a second location;

displaying a game action in response to a change in position of the tracking mark from the first location to the second location;

wherein the change in position of the tracking mark is associated with qualitative information, and wherein an aspect of the interactive gaming experience is changed in response to recognition of the qualitative information;

wherein the qualitative information is interpreted by the interactive computer game as an instruction; and

wherein the instruction includes a member selected from the group of;

an instruction to turn off the game, an instruction to change a type or characteristic of the game, and an instruction to input alphanumeric information.

10. The method of providing an interactive gaming experience recited in claim 9, further including recognizing a position of the tracking mark by distinguishing a color of the tracking mark from one or more colors of the article of wear.

11. The method of providing an interactive gaming experience recited in claim 9, further including recognizing a position of the tracking mark by distinguishing a shape of the tracking mark.

12. The method of providing an interactive gaming experience recited in claim 9, further including recognizing a position of the tracking mark by distinguishing a reflectivity of the tracking mark from a reflectivity of the article of wear.

13. The method of providing an interactive gaming experience recited in claim 9, wherein the article of wear is selected from the group consisting of:

footwear, a shirt, pants, a jacket, shorts, socks, a hat, and a band.

14. The method of providing an interactive gaming experience recited in claim 9, further comprising:

recognizing qualitative information from the tracking mark, and

changing an aspect of the game in response to recognizing the qualitative information from the tracking mark.

15. The piece of apparel for use with an interactive computer game, comprising:

an article of wear; and

at least one tracking mark substantially permanently displayed on the article of wear, the at least one tracking mark being formed of a retroreflective material, wherein the retroreflective material is overlaid with a translucent colored film, the at least one tracking mark being positioned so as to be recognizable by an interactive computer game.