Game device and method for processing images responsive to captured player images

• US 8,257,176 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2002
• Issued: 09/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Company Limited (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Company Limited (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Furuya, Manabu
• Primary Examiner(s): Coburn, Corbett B
• Application Number:
  US10/178,515
• Publication Number:
  US 20030003992A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,724 Days
• Field of Search: 463/36, 463/35, 382/276
• US Class Current: 463/36
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• 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 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/5255 according to dedicated instructions from a player, e.g. using a secondary joystick to rotate the camera around a player's character
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/837 Shooting of targets
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1012 involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6661 for changing the position of the virtual camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6676 by dedicated player input
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8076 Shooting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/012 Head tracking input arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/037 using the raster scan of a cathode-ray tube [CRT] for detecting the position of the member, e.g. light pens cooperating with CRT monitors

Abstract

Proper recognition of a position can be achieved even when a predetermined part of a player moves rapidly. An image of a player is captured by a camera unit, and from this image the head position of the player is recognized, so that the game proceeds based on the recognized result. At this time, a base position group is selected in principle from a difference between the latest and immediately preceding player images within a selection range corresponding to the previously recognized position (S207), and the selection range is changed exceptionally to reselect the base position group from the difference (S210).

Claims

1. A game device operative to create a display for a game from a variable perspective of a player based on player movement, comprising:

image capturing means for capturing player images at predetermined time intervals;

selecting means for selecting a base position group, defining a difference between a current player image and at least one previous player image within a predetermined selection range, used for recognizing a predetermined part of a player from the predetermined selection range corresponding to a previously recognized position of the predetermined part, based on the player images captured by said image capturing means;

reselecting means for changing said selection range in accordance with the selected base position group to reselect the base position group used for recognizing the predetermined part of the player; and

recognized position determining means for determining a present recognized position based on the base position group selected by said selecting means or reselected by said reselecting means.

2. A game device according to claim 1, wherein

said selecting means selects the base position group used for recognizing the predetermined part of the player from the predetermined range surrounding the previously recognized position, and

said reselecting means shifts said selection range based on said player image.

3. A game device, operative to create a display for a game from a variable perspective of a player based on player movement, comprising:

image capturing means for capturing player images at predetermined time intervals;

recognizing means for recognizing a position of a predetermined part of a player based on the player images captured by said image capturing means, and outputting the recognized position;

recognized position storing means for storing a predetermined number of recognized positions formerly output by said recognizing means;

movement amount calculating means for calculating an amount of movement for each recognized position stored by said recognized position storing means;

number changing means for changing said number based on the amount of movement for each recognized position calculated by said movement amount calculating means;

output value calculating means for calculating an output value based on said number of recognized positions stored by said recognized position storing means; and

game processing means for performing a game process based on the output value supplied by said output value calculating means.

4. A method of processing an image of a person for a game, operative to create a display for the game from a variable perspective of a player based on player movement, comprising steps of:

capturing images of a person at predetermined time intervals;

selecting a base position group, defining a difference between a current player image and at least one previous player image within a predetermined selection range, used for recognizing a predetermined part of the person from a predetermined selection range corresponding to a previously recognized position of the predetermined part, based on the captured images of the person;

changing said selection range based on the selected base position group to reselect the base position group used for recognizing a predetermined part of the person; and

determining a present recognized position based on the selected or reselected base position group.

5. A computer program product storing a program for causing a computer to execute a game that is operative to create a display for the game from a variable perspective of a player based on player movement, comprising the, steps of:

capturing images of a person at predetermined time intervals;

selecting a base position group, defining a difference between a current player image and at least one previous player image within a predetermined selection range, used for recognizing a predetermined part of the person from a predetermined selection range corresponding to a previously recognized position of the predetermined part, based on the captured images of the person;

changing said selection range based on the selected base position group to reselect the base position group used for recognizing a predetermined part of the person; and

determining a present recognized position based on the selected or reselected base position group.

6. A method for processing images of a person for a game, operative to create a display for the game from a variable perspective of a player based on player movement, comprising steps of:

capturing the images of the person at predetermined time intervals;

recognizing a position of a predetermined part of the person based on the captured images of the person, and outputting the recognized position;

sequentially storing the recognized position in storing means;

calculating an amount of movement for each recognized position stored in said storing means;

changing the number of recognized positions stored in said storing means based on the calculated amount of movement for each recognized position; and

calculating an output value based on the recognized position stored in said storing means.

7. A computer program product storing a program for causing a computer to execute a game that is operative to create a display for the game from a variable perspective of a player based on player movement, comprising the steps of:

capturing images of a person at predetermined time intervals;

recognizing a position of a predetermined part of the person based on the captured images of the person, and outputting the recognized position;

sequentially storing the recognized position in storing means;

calculating an amount of movement for each recognized position stored in said storing means;

changing the number of recognized positions stored in said storing means based on the calculated amount of movement for each recognized position; and

calculating an output value based on the recognized position stored in said storing means.