Interactive virtual thematic environment

• US 8,225,220 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2008
• Issued: 07/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Quantum Imaging LLC
• Original Assignee: Barbaro Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Barbaro Altieri, Frances
• Primary Examiner(s): BOUTAH, ALINA A
• Application Number:
  US12/073,967
• Publication Number:
  US 20080163089A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,588 Days
• Field of Search: 715/757, 348/40, 359/1, 359/15, 359/35, 359/443
• US Class Current: 715/757
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/215 comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/216 using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/217 using environment-related information, i.e. information generated otherwise than by the player, e.g. ambient temperature or humidity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/65 automatically by game devices or servers from real world data, e.g. measurement in live racing competition
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/0005 Adaptation of holography to specific applications holographic optical element G02B5/32; holographic scanner G02B26/106; recognition using holographic mask G06V10/88; holographic memories G11B7/0065, G11C13/042
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0257 User requested
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/006 Mixed reality object pose determination, tracking or camera calibration for mixed reality G06T7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/363 using image projection screens volumetric display H04N13/388
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/366 using viewer tracking

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a method of integrating information, including real-time information, into a virtual thematic environment using a computer system, including accessing the stored information from a database or downloading the real-time information from a source external to the thematic environment; inserting the real-time information into the thematic environment; and displaying the information to a user within the thematic environment. In one embodiment, the computer system is connected to a holographic projection system such that the images from the thematic environment can be projected as holographic projections. The computer system includes an interactive software application platform having at least one thematic/publishing logic module which contains thematic environment rules; at least one digital content library module which provides content management on the thematic environment; and at least one quantum imaging environment (QIE) module which interprets content such that the content is manipulated and accessed by any device.

Claims

1. A method of integrating holographic images into a virtual thematic environment using a computerized system, comprising:

generating images of a virtual thematic environment using a computer system;

projecting said images as holographic projections from said computer system onto display screens, using a holographic projection system; and

receiving input from a direct interaction with one of said holographic projections within said virtual thematic environment, said direct interaction initiates sensor controllers to make a change from said virtual thematic environment to another virtual thematic environment or to a website.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

integrating audio and video into said holographic projections.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

integrating real-time information into said virtual thematic environment.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

tracking a location of a user within said holographically projected virtual thematic environment.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein said tracking is performed by a GPS system.

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

integrating at least one of a voice recognition system, a synthetic smell system, a weather system, and a GPS system into said holographically projected virtual thematic environment.

7. A computer system having a program for integrating holographic images into a virtual thematic environment comprising:

means for generating images of displaying a virtual thematic environment using a computer system;

a holographic projection system which projects said images as holographic projections from said computer system onto display screens; and

means for receiving a direct interaction with one of said holographic projections within said virtual thematic environment, said direct interaction initiates sensor controllers to make a change from said virtual thematic environment to another virtual thematic environment or to a website.

8. A computer system for integrating holographic images into a virtual thematic environment, comprising:

at least one memory having at least one program comprising the steps of;

generating images of a virtual thematic environment using a computer system;

projecting said images as holographic projections from said computer system onto display screens, using a holographic projection system; and

receiving input from a direct interaction with one of said holographic projections within said virtual thematic environment, said direct interaction initiates sensor controllers to make a change from said virtual thematic environment to another virtual thematic environment or to a website; and

at least one processor for running the program.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein at least one of audio, video, a voice recognition system, a synthetic smell system, a weather system, and a GPS system are integrated into said holographically projected virtual thematic environment.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:

a control system accessed by a user to control said holographically projected images within the virtual thematic environment.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said projection system projects said holographic images in 3D.

12. The apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:

a plurality of sensors to track movement of a user within the virtual thematic environment.

13. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein real-time information is integrated into the virtual thematic environment.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said real-time information is downloaded from one of cable and satellite.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said real-time information is automatically downloaded based on actions of a user within the holographically projected virtual thematic environment.

16. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein a user is provided with objects within the holographically projected virtual thematic environment that operate in real-time with real-time information.

17. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein a user is provided with mini-applications within the holographically projected virtual thematic environment which operate in real-time with real-time information.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable medium whose contents cause a computer system to integrate holographic images into a virtual thematic environment, the computer system having a program which executes the steps of:

generating images of a virtual thematic environment using a computer system;

projecting said images as holographic projections from said computer system onto display screens, using a holographic projection system; and

receiving input from a direct interaction with one of said holographic projections within said virtual thematic environment, said direct interaction initiates sensor controllers to make a change from said virtual thematic environment to another virtual thematic environment or to a website.

19. An apparatus for providing holographic images into a virtual thematic environment, comprising:

a computer system which generates images from a virtual thematic environment and projects them as holographic projections, said computer system having a memory and a processor including;

at least one thematic/publishing logic module which contains virtual thematic environment rules;

at least one digital content library module which provides content management on the virtual thematic environment; and

at least one quantum imaging environment (QIE) module which interprets content such that said content is manipulated and accessed by any device;

a holographic projection system which projects said holographic projections on display screens; and

at least one of a synthetic smell system, and a weather system, which is used with at least one of said holographic projection system or said computer system;

wherein a direct interaction by a user with one of said holographic projections is tracked by sensors, and said direct interaction initiates a change from said virtual thematic environment to another virtual thematic environment or to a website.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein said computer system obtains and displays content information in real-time.

21. The system according to claim 19, wherein a plurality of control panels are connected to said computer system over the internet.

22. An apparatus for providing holographic images into a virtual thematic environment, comprising:

a room containing a plurality of display screens;

a computer system which generates images from a virtual thematic environment and projects them as holographic projections, said computer system having memory and a processor including;

at least one thematic/publishing logic module which contains virtual thematic environment rules;

at least one digital content library module which provides content management on the virtual thematic environment; and

at least one quantum imaging environment (QIE) module which interprets content such that said content is manipulated and accessed by any device;

a holographic projection system which projects said holographic projections on said display screens; and

a user-accessible control panel embedded within a chair, which provides access to said computer system to control said virtual thematic environment;

wherein a direct interaction by a user with one of said holographic projections is tracked by sensors, and said direct interaction initiates a change from said virtual thematic environment to another virtual thematic environment or to a website;

wherein said display screens are connected to said control panel.

23. The system according to claim 22, further comprising at least one of audio, video, and a voice recognition system.

24. The system according to claim 22, wherein the virtual thematic application includes real-time content.

25. An apparatus for providing holographic images into a virtual thematic environment, comprising:

a room containing a plurality of sensors for at least tracking movement of a user through said room;

a computer system which generates images from a virtual thematic environment and projects them as holographic projections, said computer system having a memory and a processor including;

at least one thematic/publishing logic module which contains virtual thematic environment rules;

at least one digital content library module which provides content management on the virtual thematic environment; and

at least one quantum imaging environment (QIE) module which interprets content such that said content is manipulated and accessed by any device; and

a holographic projection system which projects said holographic projections of the virtual thematic environment in said room;

wherein a direct interaction by said user with one of said holographic projections during said movement of said user through said room, is tracked by said sensors, and said direct interaction initiates a change from said virtual thematic environment to another virtual thematic environment or to a website.

26. The system according to claim 25, further comprising at least one of audio, video, a voice recognition system, a synthetic smell system, a weather system, and a GPS system.

27. The system according to claim 25, wherein said room is in a warehouse.

28. The system according to claim 25, further comprising a computer system disposed within at least one room such that the user may at least one of perform other application and connect to a network.

29. The system according to claim 25, wherein the virtual thematic environment includes real-time content.