Video gaming device with image identification

• US 8,430,750 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2009
• Issued: 04/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Seshadri, Nambirajan
• Primary Examiner(s): Bumgarner, Melba
• Assistant Examiner(s): GALKA, LAWRENCE STEFAN
• Application Number:
  US12/627,894
• Publication Number:
  US 20100075749A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,247 Days
• Field of Search: 463/29, 463/31, 463/32, 463/36
• US Class Current: 463/29
• 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 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/42 by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/533 for prompting the player, e.g. by displaying a game menu
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/73 Authorising game programs or game devices, e.g. checking authenticity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1012 involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1093 using visible light
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/201 Playing authorisation given at platform level
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/208 for storing personal settings or data of the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/695 Imported photos, e.g. of the player

Abstract

A video gaming device includes a processing module, a graphics processing module, and a video gaming object interface module. The processing module interprets a digital image(s) of a player to determine an identity of the player. When the identity of the player is determined, the processing module retrieves a user profile and generates video gaming menu data in accordance with at least one data element of the user profile. The graphics processing module renders a display image based on the video gaming menu. The video gaming object interface module receives a wireless menu selection signal and converts it into a menu selection signal.

Claims

1. A video gaming device comprises:

a processing module including a processor and executable operational instructions, the processing module configured to;

interpret at least one digital image of the video game player to determine an identity of the video game player;

when the identity of the video game player is determined from the at least one digital image, retrieve a user profile of the video game player, the user profile including a caricature based upon the at least one digital image of the video game player; and

generate video gaming menu data in accordance with at least one data element of the user profile; and

a graphics processing module configured to render a display image based on the video gaming menu; and

a video gaming object interface module configured to;

receive a wireless menu selection signal; and

convert the wireless menu selection signal into a menu selection signal,

wherein when the identity of the video game player cannot be determined from the at least one digital image;

the processing module is further configured to generate a query message regarding whether the video game player would like to establish the user profile linked to a digital image of the video game player;

the graphics processing module is further configured to render a second display image based on the query message;

the video gaming object interface module is further configured to;

receive a wireless response signal; and

convert the wireless response signal into a response signal; and

the processing module is further configured to;

process the response signal to link the user profile to the digital image of the video game player.

2. The video gaming device of claim 1, wherein the processing module is further configured to interpret the at least one digital image by:

analyzing the at least one digital image to isolate a face of the video game player; and

performing a facial recognition algorithm on the face to identify the video game player.

3. The video gaming device of claim 2, wherein the processing module is further configured to perform at least one of:

when the analyzing of the at least one digital image cannot isolate the face, generating a message instructing the video game player to reposition himself or herself; and

when the analyzing of the at least one digital image cannot isolate the face, generating a second message instructing the digital camera to adjust its capture range to zoom in on a head of the video game player and to capture another digital image.

4. The video gaming device of claim 1, wherein the processing module processes the response signal by:

determining whether the video game player has an existing user profile;

when the video game player has the existing user profile;

storing the at least one digital image of the video game player to produce at least one stored digital image; and

adding the at least one stored digital image to the user profile to establish the link between the user profile and the digital image of the video game player; and

when the video game player does not have an existing user profile;

obtaining user data; and

creating the user profile to include the user data and the at least one stored digital image.

5. The video gaming device of claim 1, wherein the user profile comprises at least one of:

authentication data;

access privileges;

product registration data; and

personal preference data.

6. The video gaming device of claim 1, wherein the processing module generates the video menu to comprise at least one of:

a listing of available video games;

the user profile; and

a listing of system settings.

7. The video gaming device of claim 6, wherein the processing module is further configured to:

interpret the menu selection signal to identify selection of one of the available video games to produce a selected video game;

retrieve operational instructions of the selected video game; and

execute the operational instructions to facilitate playing of the selected video game.

8. The video gaming device of claim 7, wherein the processing module executes the operation instructions by:

identifying operational instructions corresponding to rendering graphics of the caricature based upon the selected video game; and

when the operational instructions corresponding to rendering the graphics of the caricature are to be executed, altering the rendering of the graphics of the caricature based on the at least one digital image.

9. The video gaming device of claim 7, wherein the processing module executes the operation instructions by:

receiving additional digital images of the video game player;

interpreting the additional digital images to identify gaming expressions; and

altering the executing of the operation instructions based on the gaming expressions.

10. The video gaming device of claim 1 further comprises:

a digital camera operable to capture the at least one digital image of the video game player.