Integrating real time data into virtual settings

• US 8,366,446 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2012
• Issued: 02/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wright, Steven A., Kuhtz, Christian, Kreiner, Barrett M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thai, Xuan
• Assistant Examiner(s): PAGE, EVAN RANDALL
• Application Number:
  US13/565,829
• Publication Number:
  US 20120295678A1
• Time in Patent Office: 186 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

Data from live events is incorporated into virtual simulations and games. The data may be obtained from various sensors and transferred over a network. However, should one of the participants be a threat, then portions of the virtual simulations and games may be disabled to protect the other participants.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

executing a simulation program on a computing device;

establishing a single voice channel between all participants of the simulation program;

retrieving profiles associated with the participants of the simulation program;

retrieving an indication from one of the profiles that one of the participants is a child predator; and

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

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising retrieving data obtained in real time.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising incorporating the data into the simulation program.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising correlating movements of an object in the simulation program to the data obtained in real time.

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

pre-programming different audio noises; and

receiving a selection of one of the different audio noises.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein querying for the data comprises querying for video data.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein querying for the data comprises querying for audio data.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein querying for the data comprises querying for weather conditions.

9. A system, comprising:

a processor;

memory; and

code stored in the memory that when executed causes the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising;

execute an automobile racing simulation program;

establish a single voice channel between all participants of the automobile racing simulation program;

query for data obtained in real time from an actual race car in a live racing event at a motorspeedway;

retrieve the data;

associate the data with a virtual car in the automobile racing simulation program;

mimick movements of the race car in the live event to the movements of the virtual car in the automobile racing simulation program;

retrieve profiles associated with the participants of the automobile racing simulation program;

retrieve an indication from one of the profiles that one of the participants is a child predator; and

disable the voice channel when the profile indicates the one participant is the child predator.

10. The system according to claim 9, further comprising code that causes the processor to correlate the movements of the virtual car in the automobile racing simulation program to the data obtained from the actual race car.

11. The system according to claim 10, further comprising code that causes the processor to graphically represent the movements.

12. The system according to claim 9, further comprising code that causes the processor to model engine noise of the virtual car in the automobile racing simulation program.

13. The system according to claim 12, further comprising code that causes the processor to pre-programming different engine noises of different makes of cars.

14. The system according to claim 9, further comprising code that causes the processor to query for video data.

15. The system according to claim 9, further comprising code that causes the processor to query for audio data.

16. The system according to claim 9, further comprising code that causes the processor to query for weather conditions during the live racing event at the motorspeedway.

17. A computer-readable storage medium containing a computer program for performing a method, the method comprising:

executing an automobile racing simulation program;

establishing a single voice channel between participants of the automobile racing simulation program;

querying for data obtained in real time from an actual race car in a live racing event at a motorspeedway;

retrieving the data;

associating the data with a virtual car in the automobile racing simulation program;

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

retrieving profiles associated with the participants of the automobile racing simulation program;

retrieving an indication from one of the profiles that one of the participants is a child predator; and

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

18. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 17, further comprising instructions for correlating the movements of the virtual car in the automobile racing simulation program to the data obtained from the actual race car.

19. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 17, further comprising instructions for graphically representing the movements.

20. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 17, further comprising instructions for modelling engine noise of the virtual car in the automobile racing simulation program.