Method and apparatus for providing audio motion feedback in a simulated three-dimensional environment

• US 8,249,263 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2008
• Issued: 08/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Cragun, Brian John
• Primary Examiner(s): MENZ, LAURA MARY
• Application Number:
  US12/120,934
• Publication Number:
  US 20090285407A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,559 Days
• Field of Search: 381/61, 345/184, 345/420
• US Class Current: 381/61
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6081 generating an output signal, e.g. under timing constraints, for spatialization
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/64 for computing dynamical parameters of game objects, e.g. motion determination or computation of frictional forces for a virtual car
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/00 Manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide method, system, and computer readable storage medium for providing an audio motion feedback to a user of a simulated three-dimensional (“3D”) environment, where the user controls an entity within the simulated 3D environment. A plurality of gridlines is projected over the simulated 3D environment to form a virtual 3D grid. A crossing of at least one boundary point by the entity is detected, wherein the boundary point is located on or within a threshold distance from at least one of the plurality of the projected gridlines. At least one boundary point type of the crossed boundary point is determined. At least one audio motion signal associated with the determined boundary point type is generated, thus providing audio motion feedback to the user regarding the entity'"'"'s movements in the simulated 3D environment.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for providing an audio motion feedback to a user, comprising:

detecting, by operation of one or more computer processors communicatively coupled to one or more memory devices, a crossing of at least one boundary point by an entity within a simulated three-dimensional (3D) environment having a plurality of gridlines projected over the simulated 3D environment, the plurality of gridlines forming a virtual 3D grid, wherein the at least one boundary point is within a threshold distance from at least one of the plurality of the gridlines;

determining at least one boundary point type of the at least one boundary point; and

providing at least one first audio motion signal associated with the determined at least one boundary point type.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

presenting at least a portion of the virtual 3D grid.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of the gridlines is uniformly spaced.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

altering at least one set-up parameter of the simulated 3D environment.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the altering is done in accordance with at least one of:

a user selection and a system automatic selection.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

correlating the crossing of the at least one boundary point to at least one position attribute associated with the entity.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

providing at least one second audio motion signal associated with a value of the at least one position attribute.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

modifying the at least one first audio motion signal based on a value of the at least one position attribute.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

altering at least one set-up parameter of the simulated 3D environment in accordance with a value of the at least one position attribute.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one first audio motion signal and the at least one second audio motion signal are provided in accordance with at least one of:

a user selectable set-up parameter and a system selectable set-up parameter.

11. A computer readable storage medium containing a program which, when executed by one or more processors performs an operation for providing an audio feedback to a user of a simulated three-dimensional (3D) environment, the operation comprising:

detecting a crossing of at least one boundary point by an entity within the simulated 3D environment having a plurality of gridlines projected over the simulated 3D environment, the plurality of gridlines forming a virtual 3D grid, wherein the at least one boundary point is within a threshold distance from at least one of the plurality of the gridlines;

determining at least one boundary point type of the at least one boundary point; and

providing at least one first audio motion signal associated with the determined at least one boundary point type.

12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the plurality of the gridlines is uniformly spaced.

13. The computer readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the method further comprises:

altering at least one set-up parameter of the simulated 3D environment.

14. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the altering is done in accordance with at least one of:

a user selection and a system automatic selection.

15. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises:

correlating the crossing of the at least one boundary point to at least one position attribute associated with the entity.

16. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises:

providing at least one second audio motion signal associated with a value of the at least one position attribute.

17. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises:

modifying the at least one first audio motion signal based on a value of the at least one position attribute.

18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises:

altering at least one set-up parameter of the simulated 3D environment in accordance with a value of the at least one position attribute.

19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the at least one first audio motion signal and the at least one second audio motion signal are provided in accordance with at least one of:

a user selectable set-up parameter and a system selectable set-up parameter.

20. A system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory containing an application for providing audio motion feedback, wherein the application, when executed by the processor, is configured to;

detect a crossing of at least one boundary point by an entity within a simulated three-dimensional (3D) environment having a plurality of gridlines projected over the simulated 3D environment, the plurality of gridlines forming a virtual 3D grid, wherein the at least one boundary point is within a threshold distance from at least one of the plurality of the gridlines;

determine at least one boundary point type of the at least one boundary point; and

provide at least one first audio motion signal associated with the determined at least one boundary point type.