Method of integrating real time data into virtual settings

• US 8,257,084 B1
• Filed: 06/22/2006
• Issued: 09/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kreiner, Barrett M., Wright, Steven A., Kuhtz, Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): Thai, Xuan
• Assistant Examiner(s): PAGE, EVAN RANDALL
• Application Number:
  US11/472,799
• Time in Patent Office: 2,266 Days
• Field of Search: 434/29, 434/69
• US Class Current: 434/69
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/24 Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for video games A63F13/00; computerized gaming systems G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/04 for teaching control of land vehicles

Abstract

A method and system for providing substantially real-time data into a virtual setting comprises launching a simulation program on a computing device, receiving data gathered from a live event, accessing the data by the computing device and incorporating at least a portion of the accessed data into the simulation program.

Claims

1. A method for using data from a race car in virtual setting, the method comprising:

launching a simulation program on a computing device;

establishing a voice channel between participants of the simulation program;

receiving the data in real time gathered from the race car in a live racing event at a motorspeedway;

measuring wind speed encountered by the race car during the live racing event;

accessing the data during the live racing event by the computing device;

associating the data from the race car in the live event with a virtual car in the simulation program;

mimicking movements of the race car in the live event to movements of the virtual car in the simulation program;

remotely driving another race car in the live event using the data from the race car;

incorporating at least a portion of the data into the simulation program;

retrieving a profile associated with each participant of the simulation program;

indicating in the profile that one of the participants is a child predator; and

disabling the voice channel when the profile indicates the one of the participants is the child predator.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the computing device is a personal computer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the simulation program is a game.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the data is gathered from a plurality of sensors.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the sensors gather at least one of audio, video and measurement data.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the sensors are placed at various locations at the area in which the live event occurs.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the data is received at the computing device via a network.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the network is a public network accessible to the computing device via a secure connection.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the network is a public network accessible to the computing device via a secure connection.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the simulation program is an observation portal for a participant to experience the live event.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the participant provides feedback to the live event based on analysis of the data and experience from the observation portal.

12. A computing device, comprising:

a processor

memory; and

code stored in the memory that when executed causes the processor at least to;

launch a simulation program on the computing device;

receive data in real time gathered from a race car in a live racing event;

measure wind speed encountered by the race car during the live racing event;

access the data during the live racing event by the computing device;

associate the data from the race car in the live event with a virtual car in the simulation program;

mimic movements of the race car in the live event to movements of the virtual car in the simulation program;

remotely driving another race car in the live event using the data from the race car;

incorporate at least a portion of the data into the simulation program as an overlay to the simulation program;

provide a voice channel between participants of the simulation program;

retrieve a profile associated with each participant of the simulation program;

indicate in the profile that one of the participants is a child predator; and

disable the voice channel when the participant is the child predator.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the live event is a sporting event.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the simulation program is a computer program representing the sporting event.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the simulation program is a training program.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the data is gathered at the live event through a plurality of sensors.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the sensors comprise a microphone, a camera and a measuring device.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the computing device is a personal computer.

19. A computer-readable storage medium containing a computer program for performing a method of providing real-time data into a virtual setting, the method comprising:

launching a simulation program;

receiving the data in real time gathered from the race car in a live racing event at a motorspeedway;

measuring wind speed encountered by the race car during the live racing event;

accessing the data during the live racing event;

remotely driving another race car in the live racing event using the data from the race car;

incorporating at least a portion of the data into the simulation program as an overlay to the simulation program;

providing a voice channel between participants of the simulation program;

retrieving a profile associated with each participant of the simulation program;

indicating in the profile that one of the participants is a child predator; and

disabling the voice channel when the participant is the child predator.