Computer videogame system with body position detector that requires user to assume various body positions

• US 8,517,834 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2009
• Issued: 08/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Softkinetic Studios SA (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Softkinetic Studios SA (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Krzeslo, Eric, Pinault, Gilles
• Primary Examiner(s): Toledo, Fernando L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bradford, Peter
• Application Number:
  US12/372,424
• Publication Number:
  US 20100210359A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,652 Days
• Field of Search: 463/36, 463/9
• 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 13/42 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 13/44 involving timing of operations, e.g. performing an action within a time slot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/5375 for graphically or textually suggesting an action, e.g. by displaying an arrow indicating a turn in a driving game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/80 Special adaptations for executing a specific game genre or game mode
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/643 by determining the impact between objects, e.g. collision detection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8005 Athletics
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8088 involving concurrently several players in a non-networked game, e.g. on the same game console

Abstract

A videogame may include providing body position challenges to one or more players to assume various target body positions at, or within, a predetermined time. Body position challenges may be provided to the one or more players by displaying body position challenge representations that prompt the one or more players to assume body positions and/or execute one or more body movements or gestures corresponding to the body position challenges. The time may be indicated via various mechanisms associated with the display (as detailed below). At a given time or over a given time interval, the videogame system may compare the player'"'"'s detected body position(s) and/or movement(s) to the body position challenges to determine a degree of match or mismatch based on various criteria. Based on the results of the comparison, the game may generate a score or other feedback for display.

Claims

1. A system configured to provide a videogame to a first player and a second player, the system comprising:

one or more body position detectors configured to capture dimensional information that defines the position of a first player and a second player in space;

one or more electronic displays configured to display to the first player and the second player a first set of body position challenge representations and a second set of body position challenge representations, wherein a body position challenge representation represents a body position challenge associated with a corresponding point in time, and wherein the body position challenge representations are displayed to the players in advance of the associated points in time such that while a point in time associated with a given body position challenge representation is approaching, the given body position challenge representation is displayed via the electronic display, wherein the first set of body position challenges and the second set of body position challenges are different;

one or more processors configured (i) to determine one or more body position parameters of the body position of the first player based on the dimensional information captured by the body position detector and to compare the one or more body position parameters of the body position of the first player with one or more body position parameters dictated by the body position challenges of the first set of body position challenges at the points in time associated with the body position challenges of the first set of body position challenges, (ii) to determine one or more body position parameters of the body position of the second player based on the dimensional information captured by the body position detector and to compare the one or more body position parameters of the body position of the second player with one or more body position parameters dictated by the body position challenges of the second set of body position challenges at the points in time associated with the body position challenges of the second set of body position challenges, and (iii) to convey an indication as to which of the first player and the second player is winning a single competitive game in which the first player and the second player are participating that incentivizes conformance with body position challenges at points in time associated with the first set of body position challenges and the second set of body position challenges, wherein the points in time associated with the body position challenges of the first set of body position challenges and the points in time associated with the body position challenges of the second set of body position challenges are the same points in time.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more body position detectors are contactless and markerless.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more body position parameters comprise one or more of a body silhouette, a three-dimensional shape of one or more body parts, or a relative positioning of specific body parts.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein a relative difficulty between the first set of body position challenges and the second set of body position challenges is determined by the one or more processors based on previously demonstrated skill-levels of the first player and the second player.

5. A method of providing a videogame to a first player and a second player, the method comprising:

detecting one or more body position parameters of a first player;

detecting one or more body position parameters of a second player;

successively displaying body position challenge representations that represent a first set of body position challenges to the first player and the second player, wherein individual body position challenges in the first set of body position challenges are associated with separate points in time, and wherein the body position challenge representations are displayed in advance of the associated points in time such that while a point in time associated with a given body position challenge representation is approaching, the given body position challenge representation is displayed;

successively displaying body position challenge representations that represent a second set of body position challenges to the first player and the second player, wherein individual body position challenges in the second set of body position challenges are associated with separate points in time, wherein the first set of body position challenges and the second set of body position challenges are different;

comparing the one or more body position parameters of the body position of the first player with one or more body position parameters dictated by the body position challenges of the first set of body position challenges at the points in time associated with the body position challenges of the first set of body position challenges;

comparing the one or more body position parameters of the body position of the second player with one or more body position parameters dictated by the body position challenges of the second set of body position challenges at the points in time associated with the body position challenges of the second set of body position challenges;

conveying an indication as to which of the first player and the second player is winning a single competitive game in which the first player and the second player are participating that incentivizes conformance with body position challenges at points in time associated with the first set of body position challenges and the second set of body position challenges, wherein the points in time associated with the body position challenges of the first set of body position challenges and the points in time associated with the body position challenges of the second set of body position challenges are the same points in time.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the detections of the one or more body position parameters are contactless and markerless.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the one or more body position parameters comprise one or more of a body silhouette, a three-dimensional shape of one or more body parts, or a relative positioning of specific body parts.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein a relative difficulty between the first set of body position challenges and the second set of body position challenges is determined based on previously demonstrated skill-levels of the first player and the second player.